Updates from the
Show Floor
CLEO/QELS '99
Friday, May 28, 1999

Continuum's FX-IR Features
IR Tunability Up to 5000 nm

BALTIMORE, MD, May 25 -- Continuum has introduced the FX-IR, which the company says is the next step in optical parametric oscillator (OPO) technology. This product was among 10 New Product Award winners selected by the Optical Society of America (OSA) during CLEO/QELS '99.

According to Continuum, the FX-IR generates tunable mid-infrared wavelengths ranging from 1450 nm to 5000 nm, which cannot be seen by the human eye. A 355 nm UV beam from a Continuum Nd:YAG laser pumps the Sunlite EX OPO. The Sunlite EX is designed to generate a high spectral brightness output beam, i.e., light of a very pure color. The laser light is then sent into the FX-IR, where it is mixed with the fundamental light of the Nd:YAG in order to generate the infrared wavelengths. The infrared wavelengths are used by scientists for spectroscopy, LIDAR, and many other applications, says the company.

The FX-IR features continuous tuning up to 5000 nm, with no sudden drop in energy. Continuum says that tunability is accomplished with the click of a mouse button. The FX-IR and the Sunlite EX share a common PC controller, allowing programmable, repeatable scanning.

PTB Home