"; _cf_contextpath=""; _cf_ajaxscriptsrc="/cfthorscripts/ajax"; _cf_jsonprefix='//'; _cf_websocket_port=8578; _cf_flash_policy_port=1244; _cf_clientid='FAF2B205B18D3D24F892A7566695B401';/* ]]> */
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Laser Diode Collimation and Focusing Tubes![]()
LT230220P-B Focusing Tube with Optic LT110P-B Collimation Tube with Optic LTN330-C Adjustable Laser Diode Collimation Tube with Optic ![]() Please Wait Features
Thorlabs offers passive laser diode mounts with premounted aspheric optics for collimation or focusing applications. Each of these mounts is compatible with our strain relief and ESD protection cables, also offered below. These mounts are compatible with low-power Ø5.6 mm or Ø9 mm laser diode packages and do not offer active cooling. They can be adapted to standard Ø1" mounts such KM100 Kinematic Mount using the AD15NT Adapter. They can also be mounted in SM1-threaded lens tubes and optomechanics using the AD15F or AD15F2 Adapters.
Insights into Beam CharacterizationScroll down to read about:
Click here for more insights into lab practices and equipment.
Beam Size Measurement Using a Chopper Wheel
![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 2: The blade traces an arc length of Rθ through the center of the beam and has a angular rotation rate of ![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 1: An approximate measurement of beam size can be found using the illustrated setup. As the blade of the chopper wheel passes through the beam, an S-curve is traced out on the oscilloscope. ![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 4: The diameter of a Gaussian beam is often given in terms of the 1/e2 full width. ![]() Click to Enlarge Figure 3: Rise time (tr ) of the intensity signal is typically measured between the 10% and 90% points on the curve. The rise time depends on the wheel's rotation rate and the beam diameter. Camera and scanning-slit beam profilers are tools for characterizing beam size and shape, but these instruments cannot provide an accurate measurement if the beam size is too small or the wavelength is outside of the operating range. A;chopper wheel, photodetector, and oscilloscope can provide an approximate measurement of the beam size (Figure 4). As the rotating chopper wheel's blade passes through the beam, an S-shaped trace is displayed on the oscilloscope. When the blade sweeps through the angle θ , the rise or fall time of the S-curve is proportional to the size of the beam along the direction of the blade's travel (Figure 5). A point on the blade located a distance R from the center of the wheel sweeps through an arc length (Rθ ) that is approximately equal to the size of the beam along this direction. To make this beam size measurement, the combined response of the detector and oscilloscope should be much faster than the signal's rate of change. Example: S-Curve with Rising Edge has a factor of 0.64 to account for measuring rise time between the 10% and 90% intensity points. Date of Last Edit: Jan. 13, 2020
![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Adjustable Laser Diode Collimation Tubes are Compatible with SR9 Strain Relief and ESD Protection Cables
Thorlabs' Adjustable Laser Diode Collimation Tubes are shipped with an aspheric lens (collimation optic) premounted. The position of this lens can be adjusted by up to 2.5 mm (0.1") by rotating the cap on the end of the tube. The position of the lens can then be locked using the external locking ring. Rotation of the cap by 5° corresponds to a linear displacement of the lens by 5.5 µm, and an engraved scale on the actuating cap allows for accurate lens positioning. The lens translates inside the tube without rotation for enhanced pointing stability. The large travel range of the optic ensures that these collimation tubes can be used to collimate any of Thorlabs' laser diodes that emit within their AR coating range. However, the lens in these collimation tubes is not meant to be replaced. The SPW301 spanner wrench can be used to install any of our Ø5.6 mm or Ø9 mm laser diodes in the collimation tube. A Ø9 mm laser diode can be directly installed into the tube with the included retaining ring, while a Ø5.6 mm laser diode can be installed with the use of the included adapter kit. Laser Diode Temperature Warning Mounting Options ![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Laser Diode Collimation Tubes are Compatible with SR9 Strain Relief and ESD Protection Cables
Other Wavelength Ranges and Collimation Optics Laser Diode Temperature Warning
![]() ![]() Click to Enlarge Laser Diode Collimation Tubes are Compatible with SR9 Strain Relief and ESD Protection Cables
These laser diode focusing packages are similar to our laser diode collimation packages sold above but include an aspheric lens pair for focusing of the laser diode output. The focus can be adjusted by threading the mounted lens pair in or out. These packages are compatible with our SR9 laser diode sockets, available below. Laser Diode Temperature Warning
![]()
These strain relief and ESD protection products offer a convenient means of connecting a Ø5.6 mm or Ø9 mm laser diode to many of Thorlabs' laser diode controllers. Each model comes with a laser socket mounted to a small printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB contains a Schottky diode to clamp any reverse voltages that might appear across the laser diode, as well as a Zener diode to shunt any excessive voltages or ESD away from the diode. Each model corresponds to one or more of the standard Pin Styles for laser diodes (see the diagram below) and is compatible with our Laser Diode Collimation and Focusing Tubes, Ø1/2" Post Mounts, and Cage Plate Mounts. SR9 models are designed for laser diodes with forward voltages up to 3.3 V, while SR9H models are designed for laser diodes with forward voltages up to 7.5 V. Each strain relief is available with or without a DB9 connector. Models with item #'s that end in -DB9 are pin compatible with many of our Laser Diode Controllers (see the strain relief cable and controller pin diagrams to determine compatibility). Note: These cables are not designed to provide any temperature regulation. More information on temperature regulating a laser diode is provided in the Laser Diode Tutorial. ![]() Supported Pin Codes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|