MountainSource-Hyperchromator - tunable light source for highest brightness (185 – 2500 nm)
The Hyperchromator is a monochromator developed by Mountain Photonics specifically for ISTEQ’s laser pumped plasma light source XWS-30, which emits an extremely high beam density and is particularly suitable for generating monochromatic light in the wavelength range of 190 – 2200 nm (UV/VIS/NIR). In combination with the hyperchromator, a tunable light source is provided that makes ideal use of the properties of the plasma light source and directs the emission surface of the plasma volume directly to the output (e.g. to the output slit or a detector) without an input slit and with almost no loss.
The light is picked up with a mirror directly from the plasma of the light source with an aperture of up to f/1.5 almost loss-free and without an additional input slit. At the output, the light can be coupled into an optical multimode fiber, allowing the hyperchromator to be easily integrated into existing systems.
This approach uses the high beam density and the wide wavelength range of the tunable light source to optimum effect and ensures maximum light throughput.
Key features
- Wide, tunable wavelength range from DUV to NIR (190 to 2200 nm)
- Various configurations of the monochromator possible by selecting different optical gratings
- Even distribution of the output power
- Half-widths from 1 – 20 nm
- Power: Up to 800 µW at a half-width of 6 nm
- Etendue matched to ISTEQ XWS-30
- Less light loss as there is no input gap
- Integrated shutter
- User-friendly software, Windows GUI, LabView, DLL or RS-232
The Hyperchromator is controlled via USB interface from PC or laptop with user-friendly software. External control and integration into existing systems via LabVIEW, Python etc. is possible as well.
The monochromator features a motorized single grating by default. It can optionally be upgraded with a dual grating for convenient measurements in the full wavelength range of 200 – 2200 nm without a manual change of the grating.
Moreover, the half-width of the output light can be further reduced with an adjustable slit.
The strength of this tunable light source is in applications that require a fast and tunable point light source. By selecting suitable optical gratings, the hyperchromator can be configured or optimized depending on the application.
Applications
- Sensor calibration
- Sensor characterization
- Characterization of spectrometers
- Measurement of grids
- Fluorescence excitation
Specifications
| Optical input | ISTEQ XWS-30 light source, directly coupled to the monochromator |
| Optical output | Fused silica fiber, SMA or FC, 100-600 µm core, or free beam output with adjustable slit or various collimator options. Spectral power monitoring on request. |
| Wavelength range | 185 – 2500 nm* |
| Aperture | f/1.5 or f/2, depending on required resolution and light output |
| Bandwith | 1-10 nm FWHM* |
| Output power | Up to 800 µW (grating at blaze wavelength, 6 nm bandwidth and 400 µm fiber) |
| Reproducibility | Typ. 0.1 nm |
| Scanning Speed | 40-100 nm/s* |
| Control Interface | USB/RS-232, LabVIEW™-based GUI, various external control options |
Operating principle
Usually, monochromators work with an input slit on which the light from the light source is projected. The disadvantage of this approach is the significant loss of light, especially in the UV and deep UV range. In contrast, the Hyperchromator uses the capabilities of the light source by directing the very small laser pumped plasma directly to a mirror without an additional entrance slit, which significantly reduces the loss of light.
Grating options
The half-width of the light is determined, among other things, by the number of lines of the optical grating. Therefore, different gratings can optimize the tunable light source for different applications. Mountain Instruments offers a wide range of optical gratings from 300 – 3600 lines/mm.
The standard design of the Hyperchromator features a single grating that is automatically moved into the correct position by a stepper motor.
For applications requiring a wider wavelength range, an optional motorized dual grating changer is available.
The following example figure shows the output power of the Hyperchromator with the ISTEQ XWS-30 and the use of a grating of 600 lines/mm. The following example figure shows the output power of the Hyperchromator with the ISTEQ XWS-30 and the use of a grating of 600 lines/mm. The light source uses a diode laser to drive the plasma, which emits light from 170 nm over the visible range to the near infrared.
Further light source options
The MountainSource-Hyperchromator has been optimized for the technical specifications of Isteq’s XWS-30 light source. Optionally, other light sources from the XWS series can also be integrated into the monochromator to have a tunable light source: