Technical Notes

The problem of coupling light into an optical fiber is really two separate problems. In one case, we have the problem of coupling into multimode fibers, where the ray optics of the …

Light is a transverse electromagnetic wave. The electric E and magnetic M fields are perpendicular to each other and to the propagation vector k, as shown below. Power density is given …

Dust and stains on Optics can cause scattering, and impurities on the optic surface can react with incident laser light to damage optical coatings. With proper handling and cleaning …

This glossary covers important terms related to linear translation stages.

The function of a stage is to constrain motion to a desired direction. For a linear stage, the desired motion is along an ideal straight line. Any motion in a constrained direction …

For continuous wave (CW) lasers the damage threshold can be calculated from the peak power and beam diameter. For example, to calculate the power density of a 50 mW Nd:YAG laser at …

There are many common parameters one considers when selecting a detector for a particular application. These include pulsewidth, bandwidth, responsivity, spectral sensitivity, noise …

Choosing the right positioning technology for an application is a complex task. There are numerous choices of linear stages, rotation stages and actuators and each product has its own …

This glossary covers important terms relating to our New Focus photodetectors and photoreceivers.

Each material used in the design of a linear translation stage has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. The following is a summary of the properties for the most common …

An Optical Mirror Mount is a device used in optics research that securely holds a mirror in place while allowing for precision tip and tilt adjustment. Due to the sensitive nature of …

Common motion systems use three types of control methods. They are position control, velocity control and torque control. The majority of Newport’s motion systems use position control. …

The Intelligent Picomotor control modules include the Model 8742 Open loop controller/driver and the Model 8743-CL closed-loop controller/driver. The Model 8742 can control up to four …

Designed specifically for single-mode fiber positioning, the 561/562 Series meets the most difficult challenges in component engineering. The core of a single-mode fiber can be as small …

When we design our mirror mounts, we strive to make mounts that provide precision adjustments that really stay put. To give you the ultimate in precision, one of our design criteria …

The smallest rotation you can make with the Picomotor™ actuator. This is the typical rotation caused by applying a single voltage pulse to the Picomotor actuator. Since the Picomotor …

Whether you are a laboratory researcher or an optical-equipment manufacturer, you’ll be concerned with how temperature changes affect your optical system. A stable mount will lead to …

The laser cavities in our external-cavity diode laser (ECDL) systems and laser modules are the result of many years of experience in designing and manufacturing tunable lasers. Their …

The way you mount your optics can make the difference between a stable setup and one that suffers from vibrations. When building a setup, be sure to minimize beam height, use fewer …

A swept-wavelength system is similar to the traditional step-and-measure system in that you’ll need a tunable laser source, the device you want to test, some photoreceivers or power …