Statement of Requirements.docx

Statement of Requirements

High-Power Tunable IR quantum cascade laser (QCL) System

I. BACKGROUND

The Material Measurement Laboratory’s Biomaterials Group has a project involving the development of a new method for mid-infrared (IR) microscopy of biomolecule content monitoring. This new technique requires a high-power tunable IR laser based on quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology for high sensitivity.

II. SPECIFICATIONS

The contractor shall provide a high-power tunable mid-IR QCL system that meets the following specifications:

· Wavelength control

· The tuning range must be from 5.7 m to 10.4 m or wider.

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

· The tuning speed in the sweep mode must be controllable via USB computer interface.

· One or multiple laser head modules are acceptable to meet the tuning range specification, but they must meet the above specified tuning speed over the entire tuning range.

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

· Pulse control

· The repetition rate must be adjustable between 100 Hz and 3 MHz.

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

· The duty cycle must be controllable, and the maximum duty cycle must be equal to or higher than 8%.

· Output power

· The average power (=peak power x duty cycle; e.g., 5 mW for 100 mW peak power and 5% duty cycle) must be higher than 5 mW at any specific wavelength within the tuning range of 5.7 m to 10.4 m.

· Other parameters

· The pulse-to-pulse stability of the mid-IR beam must be equal to or lower than 5% (peak-peak).

· The exit mid-IR beam divergence must be equal to or smaller than 4 mrad (full angle, 1/e2 intensity).

· The mid-IR beam must be linearly polarized with the extinction of 100:1 or higher.

· Pointing stability of the mid-IR beam must be equal to or smaller than 0.1 mrad during wavelength tuning over the whole tuning range.

· Beam quality of the mid-IR beam must be the TEM00 mode.

· Computer interface and cables must be provided.

· The LabView driver or software development kit (SDK) must be provided for full control of the wavelength tuning and internal triggering of pulse operation.

· An additional aiming visible beam that provides visible, collimated beam co-boresighted with IR beams. The visible and IR beams must be switchable between them via USB computer interface and LabView driver.

III. DELIVERY

Delivery shall be FOB Destination and shall occur within 100 calendar days of award. Delivery shall be to the NIST campus at 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA during normal business hours defined as Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, except for federal holidays.

IV. DELIVERABLES

V. WARRANTY

The Contractor shall provide, at minimum, a one (1) year warranty to include all parts, labor, and travel for the laser system and associated software system, to keep the system operating to manufacturer's specifications, and software updates. The warranty period shall commence upon NIST's acceptance of the instrument.

VI. ACCEPTANCE

Acceptance shall occur once the laser system is tested by the NIST TPOC and demonstrates all requirements have been met. Testing shall occur within 10 calendar days of delivery.