Cobra
P U L S E D D Y E L A S E R S
The Cobra dye
laser is Spectra-Physics’ simplest pulsed dye
laser system, German
engineered by our partner firm Sirah GmbH for precision, stability and reliability. Features
include integrated oscillator/pre-amplifier and quick change dye cuvette. External
wavelength conversion units extend the tuning range from the deep UV to the near IR.
The Cobra dye
laser, with is dual use oscillator cuvette, is designed for low energy
applications where 5-20 mJ are required. The
laser is well suited for pumping by the smaller
Quanta-Ray YAGs such as the INDI models, resulting in an overall compact system size.
Cobra incorporates a grazing incidence resonator designed to use the grating’s dispersion
twice per oscillator round-trip, ensuring narrow linewidths with low ASE. An optional
second grating can be added to the resonator for ultra narrow linewidths below 0.03 cm-1
at 570 nm. The resonator allows narrow line tuning over a broad tuning range without the
need for an intra-cavity etalon, thus simplifying the measurement process without
sacrificing performance.
The Cobra
laser’s quartz dye cuvette is held in place by a state-of-the-art cell mount
manufactured for stability and precision from high performance alloys and graphitereinforced
polymers. Designed for ease of use, the mounted cuvette and the entire dye
circulator unit can be removed in seconds without tools and without interrupting the dye
flow loop. This design is ideal for applications that require more than one type of dye. The
quick change from one dye defined wavelength range to another saves time and eliminates
the need for messy dye changes.
Dye flow rates for the standard circulator and cell assemblies are high enough to work up
to 50 Hz with higher power pumps available for higher repetition rates. For additional
versatility, the circulator operates with polar and non-polar solvents, as well as solvents of
varying viscosities.
The Cobra pulsed dye
laser is designed for reliability. All oscillator components are
mounted on a solid block of low thermal expansion stainless steel, mechanically and
thermally isolated from the outer
laser housing. By removing virtually all mechanical and
thermal stress from the oscillator block and by using opto-mechanics optimized for easy and
reproducible operation, the oscillator stage requires very limited user adjustment. This
mechanical stability results in a wavelength resettability for the oscillators of <5 pm, a limit
set primarily by the Cobra
laser’s spectral resolution.
The Cobra Advantage
• Wide wavelength coverage from 190 nm to >11 ìm with
wavelength extension options
• Spectral linewidths <0.03 cm-1 with no intra-cavity etalon
• User friendly software fully LabView enabled
• Output energy >20 mJ with Quanta-Ray® Nd:
YAG lasers
A P P L I C A T I O N S
• Laser induced fluorescence
• Lidar and remote sensing
• Combustion and atmospheric studies
• Laser spectroscopy
• Cavity ringdown spectroscopy
• CARS
• Photolysis
