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Hedgehog™ HHG Compact, Rapid-scan, Tunable Mid-IR CW/Pulsed Laser for Research & OEM Applications

DRS Daylight Solutions
For Spectroscopy at Speed, Without Compromise™.

Molecular spectroscopy applications benefit from rapid, high Signal-to-Noise Ratio data acquisition. This demands fastscan mid-IR lasers delivering high-quality light. Until now, high tuning speed has come with compromises. The new Hedgehog from DRS Daylight Solutions changes this. For the first time, fast tuning and high-fidelity output is available from a compact, robust mid-IR laser. Hedgehog is built on Daylight’s field-proven Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) technology. Available center wavelengths span the mid-IR spectrum from < 4 μm to >13 μm, and Hedgehog can provide pulsed or CW output2 . Users can select from three model types (HHG, HHGUT, or HHG-LT) depending on their application power and tuning range requirements. All models include a GUI option for ultra-quiet CW operation, high wavelength repeatability, and multiple tuning modes.

Hedgehog’s small size and rugged design make it ideally suited to either laboratory use or OEM integration. Each Hedgehog is shipped with a compact, easy-to-use SideKick™ multi-function QCL controller. All control functionality is via USB/Ethernet connectivity and an included GUI and SDK command set. Daylight‘s proprietary HFQD™ (High-Fidelity QCL Drive) circuitry also protects your QCL chip.

With Hedgehog, high-speed, high-quality mid-IR spectroscopic data acquisition is now a reality. Hedgehog brings new capabilities to a wide range of molecular sensing applications including process control, detection of pollutants, chemical and biological agents, time-resolved spectroscopy, and cellular imaging. Please contact us today to learn how Hedgehog, and our highly experienced team, can help your application.

 

Highlights:
  • Tuning slew rates to > 30,000 cm-1/s
  • Ultra-low noise mode (CW RIN as low as -140 dBc/Hz)
  • High wavelength accuracy, precision and repeatability
  • Available center wavelengths: < 4 μm to >13 μm
  • Compact head ideal for OEM integration or lab use
  • New Hedgehog-LT: greater utility than DFBs

 

Applications:
  • Standoff detection
  • Process control
  • Atmospheric research
  • Nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy
  • TIC, VOC, GHG chemical and biological agent detection
  • Combustion diagnostics
  • Biomedical diagnostics
  • Protein analysis
  • Imaging
  • Photoacoustic spectroscopy
Performance specifications [1]
Model HHG HHG-UT HHG-LT
Tuning Range [2],[3] Up to 200 cm-1 Up to 400 cm-1 30 cm-1
Average Power [2],[3] Up to 500 mW Up to 500 mW Up to 150 mW
Peak Power [3] Up to 1 W Up to 1 W Up to 200 mW

 

Performance
Centre Wavelength Availability < 4 μm to > 13 μm
Modes of Operation Pulsed or CW [2]
Tuning Modes Set λ, Step & Measure, Continuous Scans
Max. Tuning Speed (Step) 250 ms step-and-settle time to arbitrary λ
Max. Tuning Speed (Scan) Slew rates to >5000 cm-1/s
Wavelength Accuracy ≤ 1 cm-1
Wavelength Repeatability To ≤ 0.1 cm-1 [5]
Average Power Stability < 2% (1 hr)
Spatial Mode TEM00 (nominal)
Beam Divergence < 4 mrad (full angle, 1/e2 intensity width) [4]
Beam Pointing Stability < 1 mrad (beam centroid change) [3]
Spot Size < 2.5 mm (1/e2 intensity radius) [4]
Polarisation Linear, vertical, >100:1

 

CW Performance [1,2]
Linewidth ≤ 100 MHz (FWHM, over 1s) [5]

 

Pulsed Performance
Energy Stability < 3%, standard deviation
Linewidth ≤ 1 cm-1 (FWHM)
Pulse Width [6] 40 to 500 ns, 20-ns increments
Repetition Rate [6] 0.1 kHz to 1 MHz, 0.1-kHz increments
Maximum Duty Cycle [6] 10% (custom up to 30%)

 

Other Specifications
Triggering (Pulsed Operation) Internal/External, External Pulse Input
Triggering (Scans) External Wavelength Step, Scan Start
External Control Interfaces [7] USB 2.0, Ethernet 10/100
Temperature Range (°C) 15 to 35 °C (operating)
Humidity 0—80% RH, non-condensing
Cooling Passive Air (pulsed, up to 5% duty cycle)
Water (CW, or >5% duty cycle pulsed)
Power Requirements ≤ 2A, 90 to 264 VAC, 47 to 63 Hz, single phase
(or ≤ 3A, 24 VDC, OEM models)
Dimensions (L x W x H) Head: 4.2 x 2.6 x 2.1 in. (11 x 6.5 x 5.2 cm) [8]
Controller: 7.3 x 5.2 x 1.4 in. (19 x 13 x 4 cm) [9]
Hedgehog Datasheet
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