Pockels Cells for High-Power Pulsed Lasers
9 June 2021
Pockels Cells feature fast and precise control of the laser beam polarization direction as a function of applied voltage. High effective transmission, fast rise/fall time of the high voltage pulse, and high contrast ratio make Pockels cells the primary choice for pulse picking from the laser pulse trains emitted by high-power ultrafast lasers.
EKSMA Optics introduces special design BBO and DKDP (KD*P) Pockels cells for advanced control of high power laser beam polarization.
Quadruple BBO Pockels cell
Quadruple BBO Pockels cell employs four electro-optical crystals with independent high voltage electrodes at two sides. This Pockels cell can be controlled by two HV drivers enabling advanced control of the parameters of laser pulses.
Features:
- Bypass resonance frequencies by alternating operation of two sides of quadruple Pockels cell
- Enables sophisticated laser pulse polarization and amplitude control employing two high voltage drivers.
- Shorter HV pulse rise/fall time due to lower operating voltage
Three terminal DKDP Pockels cell
The operation of a single crystal-based, three-terminal DKDP (KD*P) Pockels cell is managed by the bipolar Pockels cell driver. The DKDP crystal that is used for the three-terminal Pockels cell has three electrodes. The ground electrode is applied in the center of the crystal, while electrodes for the positive and negative voltages are deposited on both sides of the cylinder shape DKDP crystal. That configuration of the e-o crystal and bipolar high voltage driver allows reducing the voltage for the operation of the Pockels cell.
Features:
- High contrast ratio > 1:2000
- Twice lower operating voltage compared to the standard Pockels cell with two electrodes
- Shorter HV pulse rise/fall times due to the lower operating voltage
- Suitable for high pulse energy lasers
EKSMA Optics offers a wide range of high voltage drivers that are optimized for the particular applications and parameters of the Pockels cells.
You can contact us by email: info@eksmaoptics.com