Specifications.docx

SPECIFICATIONS

Fast, Tunable Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL)

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Material Measurement Laboratory’s Biomaterials Group has a project involving development of a new method for mid-IR spectroscopy of protein and water content monitoring. This new technique requires a fast, tunable infrared (IR) laser based on quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology for high sensitivity. This technique directly supports NIST’s mission to advance measurement science to provide unprecedented information about the higher order structure of biomolecules and stability of biopharmaceutical products; to accelerate competitiveness of biosciences and health; and to assist academic, industrial and regulatory stake holders.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

a. Hardware The contractor shall provide a fast, tunable mid-IR quantum cascade laser (QCL) in the pulsed mode, including a controller, cables and software necessary for operation by computer.

Fast tunable mid-IR QCL specifications:

· Wavelength control

· Tuning range must include between 5.8 m to 7.1 m

· Tuning speed in the sweep mode must be equal to or higher than 1,000 cm-1/s over the whole tuning range

· Step-and-settle time in the step mode must be equal to or smaller than 250 ms

· Multiple laser head modules are acceptable to meet the tuning range specification, but they must meet the above specified tuning speed over the whole tuning range

· Spectral linewidth (full-width-half-maximum) must be equal to or narrower than 1 cm-1

· Pulse control

· Repetition rate must be adjustable between 100 Hz and 500 kHz

· Pulse width must be adjustable between 50 ns and 300 ns with increment equal to or shorter than 20 ns

· Maximum duty cycle must be equal to or higher than 10%

· External trigger must be possible to synchronize output TTL pulses

· Output power

· Average power (=time-averaged output power =peak power x duty cycle) must be higher than 1 mW at any specific wavelength within the tuning range of 5.8 m to 7.1 m

· Other parameters

· Pulse-to-pulse stability must be equal to or lower than 5% (peak-peak)

· Beam divergence must be equal to or smaller than 6 mrad (full angle, 1/e2 intensity)

· Beam must be linearly polarized with extinction of 100:1 or higher

· Pointing stability must be equal to or smaller than 2 mrad during wavelength tuning over the whole tuning range

· Beam quality must be TEM00

· Computer interface and cables must be provided

· The system must be upgradable to provide the wavelength tuning range from 5.8 m to 11 m with the average power (=time-averaged output power) higher than 1 mW

b. Software

· The contractor shall provide either a stand-alone computer program or LabView driver (compatible with LabView 2014 or a later version) for full control of the wavelength tuning and internal triggering of pulse operation

c. Warranty

· The contractor warrants that the laser will correspond with its specification at the time of delivery and will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 12 months from the date of acceptance.

III. Delivery

120 days after award to NIST Gaithersburg, MD 20899

IV. ACCEPTANCE

NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) will perform acceptance tests to verify equipment operation meets manufacturer’s specifications. Allow 14 calendar days for testing, and acceptance.