LDH-I Series

• Higher measurement accuracy
• Faster data acquisition
• Broad experimental flexibility
• Reliable synchronization
• Improved experiment stability
• Long-term consistency

The PicoQuant LDH-I Series is a family of smart picosecond pulsed laser diode heads designed specifically for use with the Taiko PDL M1 laser driver.

The series combines the short-pulse performance of PicoQuant's LDH laser technology with intelligent control and calibration features. Each LDH-I laser head contains information that allows the Taiko PDL M1 to automatically identify the connected laser head, while integrated calibration data enables accurate control of the laser's optical output power.

The LDH-I Series covers wavelengths from 375 nm to 1550 nm, giving researchers a broad selection of excitation wavelengths for fluorescence, spectroscopy, semiconductor, and optical measurement applications. Depending on the selected diode, pulse widths can be as short as 20 ps FWHM, while repetition rates can range from single-shot operation to as high as 100 MHz.

One of the most useful features of the LDH-I platform is its dual power calibration. The laser heads can operate in linear mode or maximum power mode. Linear mode is designed to maintain stable pulse energy and pulse shape across the available repetition-rate range, which is particularly useful for lifetime measurements where a consistent instrument response function (IRF) is important. Maximum Power Mode prioritizes the highest available pulse power.

The laser heads also support pulsed, burst, and CW operation. Burst mode is particularly useful when experiments require groups of pulses separated by defined time intervals, such as long-lifetime measurements, ranging, and laser seeding applications. CW mode allows significantly higher average optical power than pulsed operation.

Another major advantage is the hot-plug capability. Researchers can exchange laser heads to change excitation wavelengths without switching off the Taiko PDL M1 driver, making the system practical for experiments that require multiple wavelengths.

For applications requiring high excitation power or wide-area illumination, PicoQuant also offers multimode diode configurations. These can provide substantially higher optical power but have reduced coupling efficiency into single-mode fibers, making them more appropriate for applications such as wide-field or light-sheet microscopy than confocal microscopy.

Product Type: Smart Picosecond Pulsed Laser Diode Head
Product Family: LDH-I Series
Manufacturer: PicoQuant
Compatible Driver: Taiko PDL M1
Wavelength Range: 375–1550 nm
Pulse Width: Down to 20 ps FWHM
Typical Pulse Width: ≤90 ps for many configurations
Repetition Rate: Single Shot to 100 MHz
Average Optical Power: Up to 200 mW*
Operating Modes: Pulsed / Burst / CW
Power Calibration: Yes
Calibration Modes: Maximum Power / Linear Mode
Wavelength Calibration: Available in CW Mode
Laser Head Identification: Automatic via Taiko PDL M1
Operating Hours Counter: Yes
Cooling: Peltier / TE Cooling
Temperature Stability: Better than 1 K
Output: Collimated Free-Space Beam
Fiber Coupling: Optional
Diode Options: Standard / High Power / Multimode / Tapered Amplified / Narrow Pulse
Hot Plug: Yes
Laser Class: Class 3B

1. Time-Resolved Fluorescence

• Time-Resolved Fluorescence
• Fluorescence Lifetime Measurements
• Fluorescence Decay Analysis
• Photon Timing
• Molecular Dynamics

Short and precisely controlled picosecond pulses make LDH-I suitable as an excitation source for time-resolved measurements.

2. FLIM & PLIM

• Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM)
• Phosphorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (PLIM)
• Biological Imaging
• Cellular Imaging
• Lifetime Mapping

The stable pulse characteristics and calibrated optical power are particularly useful for lifetime measurements where the excitation profile directly influences the instrument response function.

3. FCS / FLCS / FRET

• Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
• Fluorescence Lifetime Correlation Spectroscopy (FLCS)
• Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
• Molecular Diffusion
• Biomolecular Interaction Studies

The broad wavelength selection allows the excitation source to be matched to different fluorophores and experimental configurations.

4. STED Microscopy

• STED Microscopy
• Super-Resolution Imaging
• Fluorescence Depletion
• High-Resolution Biological Imaging

Short-pulse laser excitation is useful in advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques such as STED, where precise temporal and optical control is important.

5. Time-Resolved Photoluminescence

• TRPL
• TRPL Imaging
• Semiconductor Characterization
• Carrier Dynamics
• Photoluminescence Lifetime

LDH-I laser heads provide pulsed excitation for measuring photoluminescence decay and carrier dynamics in semiconductor and optoelectronic materials.

6. Semiconductor Diagnostics & Detector Calibration

• Semiconductor Diagnostics
• Detector Characterization
• Photodetector Testing
• Optoelectronic Device Characterization
• Time Response Measurement

The controlled pulse timing and calibrated optical power make the LDH-I Series suitable for characterizing the temporal response of optoelectronic devices and detectors.

7. LiDAR & Ranging

• LiDAR
• Laser Ranging
• Time-of-Flight Measurement
• Short-Pulse Ranging
• Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR)

The Burst Mode is particularly useful for ranging applications where controlled groups of pulses are required.

8. Laser Seeding

• Laser Seeding
• Seed Laser Source
• Optical Amplifier Seeding
• Pulsed Laser Systems

The ability to generate controlled pulse sequences makes selected LDH-I configurations suitable for seeding downstream laser or amplification systems.

9. Single-Molecule Spectroscopy

• Single-Molecule Spectroscopy
• Single-Molecule Detection
• Photon Counting
• Fluorescence Dynamics

The combination of picosecond excitation and a wide wavelength selection supports single-molecule fluorescence and photon-counting experiments.