Ultrafast fiber lasers are also increasingly being used in new and emerging applications such as biomedical microscopy and imaging, spectroscopy and for advanced scientific research.

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The general guideline for cleaning optics is “if it’s not dirty, don’t clean it”. Handling optics increases their chances of getting dirty or damaged, so you should clean optics only when necessary. Both the proper cleaning products and proper methods are equally important to cleaning the optic.

Always use lint-free tissue with a solvent.  Dry lens tissue can scratch optical surfaces. A good solvent to use is a mix of 60% acetone with 40% methanol.  Acetone alone dries too quickly to dissolve all of the debris. The methanol slows the evaporation time and also dissolves debris that acetone alone would not clean. Always use acetone-impenetrable gloves when using acetone.

Once you’ve cleaned your optic, place the optic in the mount it will be used in, or wrap it in lint-free lens tissue and place it in its container right away. Be mindful to wrap each optic in its own lens tissue and/or store it individually, as unwrapped optics that are in contact will cause damage. Keep the optics in a low humidity environment.

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Use the “brush” technique for small or mounted optics. Make a lens-tissue brush by folding the lens tissue so that the fold is nearly as wide as the optic to be cleaned. Do not touch any part of the tissue that will touch the optic. With a hemostat or tweezers, grip the folded tissue parallel to and near the fold. Wet the “brush” with solvent and shake off any excess liquid. Start first by blowing off the dust. Place the brush on the optic surface, apply slight pressure with the hemostat, and slowly wipe straight across, from one edge of the optic surface to another.

Inspect an optic for dust and stains by holding it near a bright visible-light source. Viewing the optic at different angles allows you to see scattering from dust and stains.

The “drop and drag” technique is ideal for light cleaning and large, unmounted optics. Place your optic on a clean, non-abrasive surface, such as a clean-room wiper. After blowing off the dust using compressed air or nitrogen, lay a piece of unfolded lens tissue over the optic, saturate the lens tissue with solvent, and slowly drag the soaked tissue across the lens surface. Similarly, to other methods, moving the tissue slowly allows the solvent to evaporate uniformly without leaving any drying markings. Remember to clean the edges of your optic before you clean the face.

Ultrashort pulse amplification is challenging because even low-energy pulses exhibit sufficient peak power to damage the amplifier. Stretching the pulse over time reduces its peak power and allows for optimal amplification without distortion—further stretching enables higher amplification. Recompressing the pulse following amplification returns it to its original ultrashort duration with significantly increased peak power—often in the gigawatt range. TeraXion’s line of ultrafast laser components maximizes both performance and cost effectiveness. These products include fixed and tunable pulse stretchers as well as stretcher+compressor matched pairs.

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Dust is the most common contaminant and the first step to cleaning your optics should be to use an optic bulb blower or compressed air. The compressed air or nitrogen must be filtered and oil-free, and de-ionized gas is recommended. Commercially available “chemical dusters” such as those designed for electronics or keyboards are typically not recommended, as the propellant can spray and potentially damage the optic.

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Acetone should never be used to clean plastic optics or optics in plastic housings as this will cause damage to the plastic. Compressed air, isopropyl alcohol, or de-ionized water are safe alternatives. As a note, isopropyl alcohol is an acceptable and effective option, but its relatively slow evaporation can leave drying marks on the optic. De-ionized water (with mild soap) can also be used with plastics.

Most industrial pico- and femtosecond laser systems utilize mode-locking to generate ultrashort pulses. The challenge with mode-locking is that the process requires a broad frequency band, but all the different wavelengths must maintain a defined phase relation as the pulse propagates within the cavity. TeraXion’s all-fiber dispersion-management reflectors provide precise control over the chromatic dispersion within the laser cavity, ensuring stable and short pulses.

Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) is a powerful imaging technique widely used in biological and biomedical research. Unlike traditional fluorescence microscopy, which uses single-photon excitation, MPM employs multiple photons to excite a fluorescent molecule. One of the biggest challenges to the widespread adoption of multiphoton microscopy is finding a suitable light source for efficient fluorophore excitation.  To reach the high peak power needed for nonlinear optical processes, femtosecond mode-locked lasers are used.

This method should be used rarely for intense cleaning of stubborn stains. It is important to note that excessive use of this cleaning technique can cause damage to any transmissive or reflective coatings. Fold the lens tissue as described in the “brush” technique above, and grip it with your fingers instead of the hemostat. Saturate the lens tissue with solvent. Applying a uniform pressure on the optic edge, slowly wipe across the lens surface.

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Terahertz radiation possesses unique properties, such as the ability to penetrate various non-conductive materials like plastics, fabrics, and biological tissues, without causing ionization.  The success of deploying THz technologies heavily depends on the availability of compact, efficient, and affordable THz sources. Femtosecond lasers are crucial tools for generating terahertz (THz) radiation due to their ability to produce extremely short, high-intensity pulses.

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Clean the edge of the optic before cleaning the face (central area) to prevent dirt from being drawn up onto the face. Wipe slowly to allow the solvent to evaporate without streaking. Remember, slow and steady cleans the optic.

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Ultrafast lasers are crucial for precise material processing in electronics, automotive parts, and medical components, offering high peak power and precise cold ablation machining capabilities. Their design prioritizes quality components to ensure cost-effectiveness and robust performance in 24/7 manufacturing environments. Chirped-pulse amplification boosts pulse energies to meet advanced manufacturing needs beyond what mode-locked oscillators alone can provide.

For mounted optics, use a smaller “brush” held by hemostats, or an optic tissue wrapped around a low-lint swab. Clean the edges of the exposed optic first, tracing the inside edge of the mount in a slow circle. Be careful to move slowly to allow the solvent to evaporate and prevent leaving streaks or spots. Do not double back over your path. As you approach your starting point trace a decreasing radius circle until you reach the center of the optic. Lift the “brush” slowly to prevent solvent from accumulating at the center.

Optics should be handled in a clean, low-dust environment while wearing powder-free acetone-impenetrable gloves or finger cots. Gloves are typically preferable as they cover the whole hand. Since oil and debris from your hands or from used lens tissue can stain or damage optical coatings, you should not touch any transmissive or reflective surfaces of your optic and never reuse a lens tissue. In case of contact, fingerprints on a coated surface should be cleaned as soon as possible to minimize the risk of staining or damaging the optic. Consider that lens tissues are inexpensive compared to the price of an optic.

There are different methods for cleaning and certain specialized optics require particular attention and change in procedures. Below are general guidelines to be used as a reference only when cleaning optics.

Early on, TeraXion recognized the emerging importance of ultrafast lasers also known as ultrashort pulse lasers for industrial and medical applications. To address this need, TeraXion has developed a line of high-quality pulse stretchers and dispersion management reflectors that are robust, cost-effective, and versatile.

Wiping a dusty optic is like cleaning your windshield with sandpaper. If the dusted optic has no visible stains after you dust it, then remember: “If it’s not dirty, don’t clean it.”  If it’s still not clean, proper use of solvents and lens tissue can often do the trick.