Resources

Gaussian Beam Propagation: From Theory to Practice
Gaussian beam optics forms the foundation of nearly all laser system design. Understanding how a Gaussian beam propagates, focuses, and transforms through optical elements is essential for designing efficient laser setups — from simple focusing to complex multi-element relay systems.The Gaussian Beam ParametersA Gaussian beam is completely characterized by two parameters at any plane: Beam waist (w₀): The minimum 1/e² radius of the beam Rayleigh range (z_R): The distance from the waist where the beam area doubles: z_R = πw₀²/λ From these, all other properties follow. The beam radius at... Read more...
Building a THz Spectroscopy Setup: Components and Configuration
Terahertz (THz) radiation — the frequency range from 0.1 to 10 THz (wavelengths from 30 μm to 3 mm) — bridges the gap between microwave electronics and infrared optics. THz spectroscopy has become an indispensable tool for studying low-energy excitations in condensed matter, characterizing pharmaceutical polymorphs, and non-destructive testing of materials.System ArchitectureA typical THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) system consists of four main subsystems: Femtosecond pump laser: Usually a mode-locked Ti:Sapphire (800 nm) or Yb:fiber laser (1030 nm) with 50–100 fs pulse duration THz emitter: Photoconductive antenna (PCA) or organic crystal... Read more...
High-Power Optics: A Practical Guide to Laser Damage Threshold
Laser-Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) is the maximum laser fluence an optical surface can withstand without sustaining permanent damage. As laser systems push to higher peak powers — particularly in CPA, attosecond science, and industrial processing — understanding and applying LIDT specifications becomes essential for system reliability.LIDT FundamentalsDamage threshold depends on several interrelated factors: Pulse duration: Shorter pulses generally produce lower damage thresholds due to multiphoton absorption and avalanche ionization Wavelength: UV wavelengths produce lower thresholds than IR due to higher photon energy Repetition rate: Cumulative thermal effects lower effective LIDT... Read more...
Selecting Nonlinear Crystals for Second Harmonic Generation
Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) is a fundamental nonlinear optical process where two photons at frequency ω combine to produce one photon at frequency 2ω. The efficiency of this process depends critically on the choice of nonlinear crystal, phase-matching conditions, and crystal dimensions.Common Nonlinear Crystals Crystal Transparency d_eff (pm/V) Best For BBO 190–3500 nm 2.0 UV generation, broadband SHG LBO 160–2600 nm 0.85 High-power SHG, NCPM KTP 350–4500 nm 3.2 CW and quasi-CW SHG KDP/DKDP 200–1600 nm 0.44 Large aperture, high energy Phase MatchingEfficient SHG requires the fundamental and harmonic waves... Read more...
Understanding Pulse Dispersion in Femtosecond Lasers
Group velocity dispersion (GVD) is one of the most critical parameters in ultrafast laser systems. When a femtosecond pulse propagates through optical materials, different wavelength components travel at different speeds, causing the pulse to broaden — a phenomenon known as chromatic dispersion.Why Dispersion MattersA transform-limited 100 fs pulse at 800 nm has a spectral bandwidth of approximately 10 nm. After passing through just 10 mm of BK7 glass, the pulse broadens to approximately 120 fs due to the positive GVD of the material (~44 fs²/mm at 800 nm). For demanding... Read more...
Getting Started with Photonics Nexus 3D Virtual Lab
Learn how to use the WaveQuanta Photonics Nexus 3D simulator to design and validate your optical setups before purchasing. This tutorial walks through placing components on a virtual optical breadboard, running beam propagation simulations, and exporting a bill of materials.Steps covered: workspace setup, component library, beam alignment, BOM export to cart.Full content coming soon. Read more...
Chirped Mirror Technology for Dispersion Compensation
Chirped mirrors are critical components in ultrafast laser systems, providing precise group delay dispersion (GDD) compensation. This white paper examines the physics of chirped mirror design, including double-chirped and complementary mirror pairs.Topics covered: GDD requirements for Ti:Sapphire and Yb-based lasers, broadband vs. narrowband designs, damage threshold considerations.Full content coming soon. Read more...
Introduction to Ultrafast Laser Pulse Characterization
Understanding pulse characterization is essential for ultrafast laser applications. This application note covers the fundamentals of autocorrelation, FROG, and SPIDER techniques used to measure femtosecond pulses.Key topics: pulse duration measurement, spectral phase retrieval, temporal pulse reconstruction.Full content coming soon. Read more...