Unico

• Improved time-resolved data quality
• Easy integration & operation
• Stable long-term performance
• Compact footprint for any setup
• Reliable day-to-day measurements

The PicoQuant Unico is a compact, stand-alone gain-switched picosecond laser designed to provide a simple and flexible optical excitation source for spectroscopy, microscopy, imaging, and materials research.

Unlike PicoQuant's modular LDH Series, where a separate laser driver is required, Unico integrates the laser source and electronics into a single compact device. This makes it particularly attractive for laboratories that need a straightforward picosecond excitation source without the complexity of configuring a separate laser head and driver.

Unico provides a single stable emission wavelength and is available in several commonly used wavelengths, including 375, 405, 450, 485, 515, and 640 nm. The available wavelengths cover applications ranging from UV/blue excitation to green and red fluorescence excitation.

One of the key advantages of Unico is its multiple operating modes. The system can generate picosecond pulses, nanosecond pulses, or continuous-wave (CW) light, allowing the same instrument to support both time-resolved and steady-state measurements. It also provides fast CW switching with an optical rise/fall time below 3 ns, which is useful for experiments requiring rapid optical modulation.

For picosecond operation, Unico can be triggered by its internal clock or by an external source. Internal repetition rates can be selected from 1 kHz to 200 MHz, while external triggering supports rates from single-shot to 200 MHz. This provides considerable flexibility for synchronization with detectors, cameras, TCSPC systems, and other experimental equipment.

The laser is also designed for easy optical integration. The available configuration provides single-mode polarization-maintaining fiber coupling with >40% typical coupling efficiency, allowing the output to be conveniently routed into optical instruments or experimental setups.

With its compact form factor, low power consumption, USB-C interface, and computer-controlled operation, Unico is particularly suitable for researchers who want picosecond laser performance without the complexity of a modular laser system.

Product Type: Stand-Alone Gain-Switched Picosecond Laser
Product Family: Unico
Laser Type: Gain-Switched Diode Laser
Wavelengths: 375, 405, 450, 485, 515, 640 nm
Operation Modes: Picosecond Pulsed / Nanosecond Pulsed / CW
Fast CW Switching: Yes
Shortest Pulse Width: <80 ps FWHM*
Internal Repetition Rate: 1 kHz–999 kHz; 1–200 MHz
External Trigger Rate: Single Shot–200 MHz
Timing Jitter: <12 ps RMS
Optical Rise/Fall Time: <3 ns
ON Time Gate: <10 ns–1 ms
OFF Time Gate: 1–255 × ON Time
Power Stability: <1% RMS / 8 h
Warm-Up Time: <2 min
Beam Circularity: 0.5–1.0
Transverse Mode: M² <1.5
Average Beam Diameter: 1.0 ± 0.30 mm
Polarization: Linear, Vertical
Polarization Extinction Ratio: >30:1 typical (>15 dB)
SM PM Fiber Coupling Efficiency: >40%
Temperature Range: 10–35°C
Humidity: <80%, non-condensing
Maximum Power Consumption: <30 W
Computer Interface: USB 2.0
Connector: USB-C
Operating System: Windows 10 / 11

1. Time-Resolved Fluorescence

• Time-Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy
• Fluorescence Lifetime Measurements
• Fluorescence Decay
• Molecular Dynamics
• Photophysical Studies

The short picosecond excitation pulses provide a suitable optical trigger for measuring fluorescence decay and lifetime.

2. Fluorescence Imaging

• Fluorescence Microscopy
• Confocal Microscopy
• Fluorescence Imaging
• Biological Imaging
• Cellular Imaging

The compact design and fiber-coupled output make Unico easy to integrate into microscopy systems. PicoQuant specifically identifies fluorescence spectroscopy and confocal microscopy as key applications.

3. Time-Resolved Imaging

• Time-Resolved Imaging
• Lifetime Imaging
• Dynamic Imaging
• Fast Optical Measurements

The combination of short pulses and flexible triggering makes Unico suitable for studying dynamic optical processes.

4. Diffusion Measurements

• Diffusion Measurements
• Molecular Diffusion
• Fluorescence Correlation Studies
• Particle Dynamics

Unico can be used as an excitation source for fluorescence-based measurements of molecular or particle diffusion.

5. Materials Science

• Materials Characterization
• Optical Spectroscopy
• Photoluminescence
• Semiconductor Research
• Optical Properties

The available blue, green, and red wavelengths provide excitation options for a range of material-characterization experiments. PicoQuant specifically identifies materials science as a target application area for Unico.

6. Raman Spectroscopy

• Raman Spectroscopy
• Raman Excitation
• Material Identification
• Molecular Spectroscopy

PicoQuant specifically lists Raman spectroscopy as an application for Unico, particularly within materials science.

7. Time-Resolved Photoluminescence

• TRPL
• Photoluminescence Lifetime
• Semiconductor Characterization
• Carrier Dynamics
• Materials Research

Picosecond excitation makes Unico suitable for experiments investigating transient photoluminescence and fast optical processes.

8. Semiconductor Diagnostics

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

PicoQuant specifically lists testing and semiconductor diagnostics among the applications of the Unico platform.