MIRcat OPERATION
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MIRcat laser head. Daylight’s proprietary HFQD™ (High-Fidelity QCL Drive) circuitry also ensures MIRcat’s
QCL chips are protected electronically.
MIRcat provides three different wavelength tuning modes: Sweep Mode, Step and Measure Mode, or Multi-
Spectral Mode. These are selectable via either the GUI or SDK. MIRcat’s Sweep Scan provides rapid
scanning of the QCL across its programmed gain profile, either uni- or bi-directionally. In this mode, users
can select scanning parameters such as start/stop wavelengths, step size, tuning rate, number of scans and
time between steps (Dwell). MIRcat-1xxx can perform sweep scans at up to 100cm-1/s, while MIRcat-QT
systems provide tuning slew rates as high as 5,000 cm
-1
/s. Multi-Spectral Mode allows jumping to up to 20
different fixed wavelengths across the tuning range. In this mode, the operator can select scanning
parameters such as start/stop wavelengths, step size, tuning rate, number of scans and time between steps.
With this wide range of options, MIRcat delivers uncompromised performance in application-critical areas.
Depending on laser modules and configuration selected, MIRcat can provide; tuning ranges to >900 cm
-1
;
CW RIN as low as -145dBc/Hz; peak power output up to 1W; average power output up to 0.5W, and
wavelength repeatability as high as <0.1cm
-1
. All MIRcats also provide a single TEM
00
output beam,
regardless of the number of modules selected, which ensures high on-target beam intensities and enables
high-efficiency fiber coupling. In addition, the new MIRcat-QT also adds faster wavelength tuning and
scanning (to >5000 cm
-1
/s) and higher spectral repeatability to the field-proven MIRcat-1xxx design.
*MIRcat’s optional integrated visible laser aiming beam provides a high-quality, low-divergence visible
aiming beam that is bore-sighted accurately to the path of the mid-infrared output. It can be used for
straightforward visual pre-alignment of the MIRcat output beam path prior to switching to the mid-
infrared output. The visible beam is activated by an ‘Enable Aiming Laser’ command on the GUI. Activating
the visible beam switches the MIRcat from mid-infrared out to the visible beam output, and vice versa.
(Simultaneous mid-infrared and visible laser output is not possible.)
3. MIRcat Laser Head - Precautions
The MIRcat laser head is a sealed, alignment-free design that neither requires nor allows internal
maintenance. Pulsed and CW operation (with water cooling) is supported by the same laser head. There are
no internal adjustments available to the user.
NEVER
attempt to remove the cover or open the optical head
in any way, or the warranty will be voided.
CAUTION: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL THE USER ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE MIRcat
LASER HEAD
. Opening the MIRcat laser head will void the warranty, resulting in misalignment
of the laser cavity, and/or cause irreparable damage to the internal components. The MIRcat
laser head is purged with a dry inert gas before sealing to minimize moisture. Breaking this seal
will also void the warranty.
CAUTION:
The laser radiation emitted from this unit is invisible to the naked eye and may be
harmful if the beam makes direct and prolonged contact with the eye. Avoid direct exposure to
the beam or looking in the direction of the laser beam directly. The safety labels shown in
Section I-2
are attached to this product.
The optical output port of the laser is covered by a manual shutter, should users want to block the laser
output beam. The base of the MIRcat laser head has three holes, aligned to match up with standard hole
