Spitfire^® Ace™ Advanced Ti:Sapphire Regenerative Amplifiers

Overview
Applications
Specifications
Features
Resources
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Overview

High-Energy, Ultrafast Amplifiers with Industry-Leading Power and Stability

Revolutionary Ace regenerative cavity design
More than 16 W of output power
Superior mode quality (M² <1.3)
Digital synchronization electronics
Spitfire Ace Power Amplifier (PA)
Spitfire Ace CEP6 Carrier-Envelope Phase Stabilization option

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Products

Applications

Ultrafast Spectroscopy
- Time resolved spectroscopy
- Multicolor pump-probe spectroscopy
- Four wave mixing spectroscopy
Material processing
Coherent control
Nonlinear optics
Optical parametric amplification

Applications

Ultrafast Spectroscopy
- Time resolved spectroscopy
- Multicolor pump-probe spectroscopy
- Four wave mixing spectroscopy
Material processing
Coherent control
Nonlinear optics
Optical parametric amplification

Specifications

Output Characteristics^1,10,11

	SPFIRE ACE			SPFIRE ACE-PA-40			SPFIRE ACE-PA-100
Pulse Width^2,3	<35 fs–<120 fs; <2 ps⁴			<40 fs			<120 fs
Repetition Rate⁵	1 kHz	5 kHz	10 kHz	1 kHz	5 kHz	10 kHz	1 kHz	5 kHz	10 kHz
Average Power⁴
Ascend 60	>7.0 W	>8.0 W	>7.0 W	>13.0 W	>16.0 W	>14.0 W	>14.0 W	>16.0 W	>14.0 W
Ascend 40	>5.0 W	>6.0 W	>5.0 W
Pulse Energy
Ascend 60	>7.0 mJ	>1.6 mJ	>0.7 mJ	>13.0 mJ	>3.2 mJ	>1.4 mJ	>14.0 mJ	>3.2 mJ	>1.4 mJ
Ascend 40	>5.0 mJ	>1.2 mJ	>0.5 mJ
Pre-Pulse Contrast Ratio⁶	>1000:1
Post-Pulse Contrast Ratio⁷	>100:1
Energy Stability	<0.5% rms over 24 hours			<0.75% rms over 24 hours
Beam Pointing Stability	<5 µrad rms⁸			<7 µrad rms⁸
Wavelength⁹	795–805 nm			780-820 nm			780–820 nm
Spatial Mode	TEM₀₀(M² <1.3 on both axes)			TEM₀₀(M² <1.45 on both axes)
Beam Diameter (1/e²)	10 mm (nominal)			12 mm (nominal)
Polarization	Linear, Horizontal

Footnotes:

Due to our continuous product improvements, specifications are subject to change without notice. The specifications only apply when Spitfire Ace is operated with recommended Spectra-Physics seed and pump lasers.
A Gaussian pulse shape (0.7 deconvolution factor) is used to determine pulse width (FWHM) from autocorrelation signal as measured with Newport PulseScout® autocorrelator.
For alternative pulse widths, please contact Spectra-Physics.
Specifications apply when pumped using Spectra-Physics Ascend 60 pump laser. The <1 ps option maximum power >5.0 W.
The desired optimum repetition rate must be specified at time of purchase. If additional repetition rates are required, additional optic sets may be required. Any system can be operated (with the same energy per pulse) at reduced repetition rates through internal divide-down electronics.
Defined as the ratio between peak intensity of output pulse to peak intensity of any pre-pulse that occurs >1 ns before the output pulse. For higher contrast ratio, please contact Spectra-Physics.
Defined as the ratio between peak intensity of output pulse to peak intensity of any post-pulse that occurs >1 ns after the output pulse. For higher contrast ratio, please contact Spectra-Physics.
At constant temperature. Variable temperature specifications <20 µrad/°C, peak-to-peak.
For wavelength extension through SHG, THG, FHG or OPA, please contact Spectra-Physics.
Performance specifications apply at peak of gain curve.
The Spitfire Ace/Spitfire Ace PA is a Class IV – High-Power Laser, whose beam is, by definition, a safety and fire hazard. Take precautions to prevent exposure to direct and reflected beams. Diffuse as well as specular reflections can cause severe skin or eye damage.

Specifications

Output Characteristics^1,10,11

	SPFIRE ACE			SPFIRE ACE-PA-40			SPFIRE ACE-PA-100
Pulse Width^2,3	<35 fs–<120 fs; <2 ps⁴			<40 fs			<120 fs
Repetition Rate⁵	1 kHz	5 kHz	10 kHz	1 kHz	5 kHz	10 kHz	1 kHz	5 kHz	10 kHz
Average Power⁴
Ascend 60	>7.0 W	>8.0 W	>7.0 W	>13.0 W	>16.0 W	>14.0 W	>14.0 W	>16.0 W	>14.0 W
Ascend 40	>5.0 W	>6.0 W	>5.0 W
Pulse Energy
Ascend 60	>7.0 mJ	>1.6 mJ	>0.7 mJ	>13.0 mJ	>3.2 mJ	>1.4 mJ	>14.0 mJ	>3.2 mJ	>1.4 mJ
Ascend 40	>5.0 mJ	>1.2 mJ	>0.5 mJ
Pre-Pulse Contrast Ratio⁶	>1000:1
Post-Pulse Contrast Ratio⁷	>100:1
Energy Stability	<0.5% rms over 24 hours			<0.75% rms over 24 hours
Beam Pointing Stability	<5 µrad rms⁸			<7 µrad rms⁸
Wavelength⁹	795–805 nm			780-820 nm			780–820 nm
Spatial Mode	TEM₀₀(M² <1.3 on both axes)			TEM₀₀(M² <1.45 on both axes)
Beam Diameter (1/e²)	10 mm (nominal)			12 mm (nominal)
Polarization	Linear, Horizontal

Footnotes:

Due to our continuous product improvements, specifications are subject to change without notice. The specifications only apply when Spitfire Ace is operated with recommended Spectra-Physics seed and pump lasers.
A Gaussian pulse shape (0.7 deconvolution factor) is used to determine pulse width (FWHM) from autocorrelation signal as measured with Newport PulseScout® autocorrelator.
For alternative pulse widths, please contact Spectra-Physics.
Specifications apply when pumped using Spectra-Physics Ascend 60 pump laser. The <1 ps option maximum power >5.0 W.
The desired optimum repetition rate must be specified at time of purchase. If additional repetition rates are required, additional optic sets may be required. Any system can be operated (with the same energy per pulse) at reduced repetition rates through internal divide-down electronics.
Defined as the ratio between peak intensity of output pulse to peak intensity of any pre-pulse that occurs >1 ns before the output pulse. For higher contrast ratio, please contact Spectra-Physics.
Defined as the ratio between peak intensity of output pulse to peak intensity of any post-pulse that occurs >1 ns after the output pulse. For higher contrast ratio, please contact Spectra-Physics.
At constant temperature. Variable temperature specifications <20 µrad/°C, peak-to-peak.
For wavelength extension through SHG, THG, FHG or OPA, please contact Spectra-Physics.
Performance specifications apply at peak of gain curve.
The Spitfire Ace/Spitfire Ace PA is a Class IV – High-Power Laser, whose beam is, by definition, a safety and fire hazard. Take precautions to prevent exposure to direct and reflected beams. Diffuse as well as specular reflections can cause severe skin or eye damage.

Features

Overview

The Spitfire^® Ace™ is our flagship amplifier system. It is the most technically advanced Ti:Sapphire regenerative amplifier commercially available. Equipped with our proprietary Ace cavity design, the Spitfire Ace provides guaranteed long term performance, low noise and reliable day-to-day operation resulting in consistent OPA performance and nonlinear wavelength conversion for use in the most demanding ultrafast applications.

Exceptional Quality and Performance

The Spitfire Ace amplifier builds upon our highly successful Spitfire platform. Every component has been carefully evaluated and selected to maximize stability. The Spitfire Ace regenerative amplifier produces an industry leading average power of more than 7 W at 1 kHz and 10 kHz, and 8 W at 5 kHz with excellent beam quality.

Excellent Stability

The Spitfire Ace provides the most stable output available from a Ti:Sapphire regenerative amplifier making the Spitfire Ace ideal for pumping multiple OPA systems and driving a wide range of nonlinear spectroscopies. The Spitfire Ace is also available as a Carrier-Envelope Phase (CEP) stabilized system. Achieve new levels of performance with the Spitfire Ace.

Compatible Power Sensors

To verify and analyze the output power of your Spitfire Ace CEP6 laser, we recommend the Ophir L50(150)A-PF-35 (7Z02737) thermal power sensor and Centauri laser power meter. Additional information on this laser measurement equipment can be found on the ophiropt.com website. Other Ophir sensors and meters may also be suitable for the Spitfire Ace CEP6, depending on application. Ophir also works with laser system developers to achieve embedded beam diagnostics to monitor system performance as an OEM solution.