VisUV

• Available as single-, dual-, or triple-wavelength configurations
• Enhanced resolution
• High measurement stability
• Reliable long-term performance
• Easy integration & operation
• Flexible excitation schemes

The PicoQuant VisUV is a versatile, stand-alone high-power picosecond laser platform designed for applications requiring short optical pulses, high pulse energy, and access to UV and visible wavelengths.

Unlike conventional diode-based picosecond laser heads, the VisUV uses a Master Oscillator Fiber Amplifier (MOFA) architecture. A gain-switched laser diode generates picosecond pulses at 1064 nm, which are then amplified through multiple stages of fiber amplification. The amplified infrared pulses are subsequently converted to shorter wavelengths using nonlinear optical frequency-conversion techniques. This architecture enables high optical output power while maintaining the short pulse characteristics and excellent beam quality of the seed source.

The VisUV platform supports a broad range of wavelengths from 266 nm in the deep UV to 590 nm in the orange spectral region. Depending on the configuration, wavelengths can be supplied individually or combined into a multi-color system with up to three parallel beam outputs. Each output has an independent shutter, allowing individual wavelength control within the same laser platform.

The platform offers two fundamentally different pulse regimes. Narrow-pulse configurations provide pulses shorter than 85 ps, making them particularly suitable for time-resolved fluorescence, FLIM, FRET, FCS, and other ultrafast measurements. Broad-pulse configurations provide approximately 0.5 ns pulses, which can offer higher pulse energy and are useful for applications where optical power is more important than the shortest possible pulse duration.

The VisUV also supports repetition rates from single-shot operation to 80 MHz. Internal repetition rates can be selected within the available range, while external TTL or NIM triggering can be used for synchronization with detectors, cameras, TCSPC systems, and other laboratory equipment.

A major advantage of the VisUV platform is its high optical output power. Depending on the selected wavelength and configuration, average power can range from sub-mW levels to as high as 750 mW. For example, PicoQuant lists a VisUV-532-HP configuration capable of up to 750 mW with sub-nanosecond pulses.

Product Type: Stand-Alone High-Power Picosecond Laser
Product Family: VisUV
Laser Architecture: Master Oscillator Fiber Amplifier (MOFA)
Seed Wavelength: 1064 nm
Output Wavelength Range: 266–590 nm
Narrow Pulse Width: <85 ps FWHM
Broad Pulse Width: Approximately 0.5 ns FWHM
Repetition Rate: Single Shot–80 MHz
Internal Triggering: Yes
External Triggering: TTL / NIM
Maximum Average Power: Up to 750 mW
Spectral Width: <1 nm
Output: Collimated Free-Space
Fiber Coupling: Optional
Beam Profile: Gaussian / TEM₀₀
Beam Quality: M² down to approximately 1.02
Beam Configuration: 1, 2, or 3 beams
Individual Beam Shutters: Yes
Computer Interface: USB
Serial Interface: RS232
Optional Driver Integration: Sepia PDL 828 + SEM 828
Cooling: Optimized thermal management/heat dissipation
Laser Type: Stand-Alone
Burn-In Testing: Extensive factory burn-in

1. Time-Resolved Fluorescence

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

The <85 ps narrow-pulse versions provide short excitation pulses for high temporal-resolution measurements.

2. FLIM / FRET / FCS

• Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM)
• Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
• Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)
• Fluorescence Lifetime Correlation Spectroscopy (FLCS)
• 2fFCS

These applications benefit from short, stable excitation pulses and flexible triggering.

3. STED Microscopy

• Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy
• Super-Resolution Microscopy
• Fluorescence Depletion
• High-Resolution Biological Imaging

The high optical power available from selected VisUV configurations makes the platform suitable for demanding microscopy applications where high excitation or depletion intensity is required.

4. TRPL

• Time-Resolved Photoluminescence
• Semiconductor Characterization
• Carrier Dynamics
• Exciton Dynamics
• Nanomaterials
• Perovskites

The short pulses provide controlled excitation for measuring photoluminescence decay and other transient optical phenomena.

5. Quantum Optics

• Quantum Optics
• Photon Correlation
• Antibunching
• Entangled Photon Generation
• Single-Photon Experiments

The high-power picosecond output can be useful for nonlinear optical processes and quantum-light experiments. PicoQuant has specifically developed a 488 nm high-power VisUV configuration for entangled photon generation.

6. LIDAR / Ranging / SLR

• LiDAR
• Time-of-Flight Measurement
• Laser Ranging
• Remote Sensing
• Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR)

The combination of high optical power, short pulses, and repetition rates up to 80 MHz makes selected VisUV configurations suitable for ranging applications.

7. Laser Cutting & Ablation

• Laser Ablation
• Micro-Machining
• Precision Material Processing
• Surface Processing
• Laser Cutting

Broad-pulse and high-power configurations can deliver significantly greater pulse energy than conventional low-power picosecond diode sources.

8. 3D Polymerization

• 3D Polymerization
• Two-Photon Polymerization
• Microfabrication
• 3D Microprinting
• Photonic Structures

High peak intensities from short pulses can support nonlinear optical processes such as multiphoton polymerization.

9. Biochemical Analytics

• Biochemical Analysis
• Protein Spectroscopy
• Fluorescence-Based Analysis
• UV Spectroscopy
• Time-Resolved Biochemistry

The UV wavelength options, particularly 280 and 295 nm, are useful for spectroscopic investigations of biomolecules. PicoQuant has published application work demonstrating the use of VisUV at 280 nm for spectroscopy.

10. Fluorescence Anisotropy

• Fluorescence Anisotropy
• Polarization-Resolved Fluorescence
• Molecular Rotation
• Protein Dynamics

The linearly polarized output is suitable for polarization-sensitive fluorescence measurements.

11. Singlet Oxygen

• Singlet Oxygen Detection
• Photodynamic Research
• Photosensitizer Studies
• Reactive Oxygen Species Research

Selected UV/visible wavelengths can be used to excite photosensitizers in studies involving singlet oxygen generation.