Details
The core of NLIR’s technology is the wavelength conversion module, which upconverts mid-infrared wavelengths to the near-visible range, enabling the use of Si and GaAs detectors. The conversion is driven by a high-power, continuous-wave 1064 nm laser inside a lithium niobate crystal. Everything is integrated and no alignment is necessary.
The SPEKTRUM Wavelength Converter offers broad-range wavelength conversion from 1.9 – 5.3 µm in the mid-infrared to 682 – 886 nm in the visible/near-infrared. All wavelengths within this range are converted simultaneously, without time lag or any scanning elements. The output can be analyzed using a conventional fiber-coupled grating spectrometer or detector with silicon-based sensors.
Read MIR Spectra with VIS/NIR spectrometer
Did you know that you can read mid-infrared data with your VIS/NIR Spectrometer? NLIR’s upconversion technology featured in the SPEKTRUM Wavelength Converter allows you to read MIR spectra with a conventional spectrometer you have at a lab or industrial environment. Setting up these capabilities is simple – just plug your spectrometer to SPEKTRUM Wavelength Converter and read data on your spectrometer’s software.
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WAVELENGTH CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY EXPLAINED
The size of the bandwidth in SPEKTRUM Wavelength Converter has a significant impact on the efficiency of photon conversion. For the smallest bandwidths of around 50 nm, the conversion efficiency can reach up to 0.1, enabling extremely sensitive measurements. Meanwhile, wider simultaneous conversion such as 3.3 µm to 5.3 µm results in a conversion efficiency of approximately 0.005, and even wider conversion from 1.9 µm to 5.3 µm has a conversion efficiency of 0.0005.
The ideal combination of bandwidth and conversion efficiency varies depending on many factors, but even the lower conversion efficiencies offer new possibilities for measuring, particularly in spectroscopic applications. Higher conversion efficiencies, coupled with the right visible-light detector, can provide some of the fastest and most sensitive infrared measurement methods available.
Compared to traditional mid-infrared spectrum analyzers, even affordable visible/near-infrared spectrometers provide significantly higher speed and sensitivity. The SPEKTRUM Wavelength Converter leverages these advantages, bringing visible-light spectrometer performance to mid-infrared measurements. Additionally, fast and sensitive photodetectors can be easily connected for real-time mid-infrared signal analysis in the time domain.
From Niels M. Israelsen et al., “High-resolution mid-infrared optical coherence tomography with kHz line rate,” Opt. Lett. 46, p. 4558 (2021).
Optical Coherence Tomography
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a well-established depth-resolved imaging technique that requires ultra-high-speed spectral analysis — a challenge already solved in the visible range. However, conventional spectrometers in the mid-infrared range lack the necessary speed, despite the well-known advantages of OCT in this spectral region. The SPEKTRUM Wavelength Converter enables kilohertz line-rate spectroscopy in the mid-infrared, making real-time OCT imaging in this wavelength range possible.
Improve your Capabilities
The translation to near-visible wavelengths gives further advantages than lower noise-equivalent power. Higher detection speed than conventional MIR detectors is readily available by just plugging the output fiber into a GHz GaAs detector; 10 GHz or even 25 GHz detectors are available off-the-shelf. Even further, standard near-visible light detectors often come pre-amplified with a response of up to GV/W, which eases the measurement of the electrical output.
NB! The spectral resolution of the upconverted light is approx. 2.5 cm-1. If your application requires better resolution, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Dr. Alessandro Trenti, Marie-Curie Cofund Postdoc
High-performance Wavelength Converter and exceptional support
NLIR provided professional assistance and transparency for knowledge sharing. I am definitely satisfied with the performance of NLIR Wavelength Converter and the scientific collaboration with the technical NLIR team.
