Spirit-NOPA

BROADLY TUNABLE OPTICAL PARAMETRIC AMPLIFIERS
FOR 3-PHOTON IMAGING IN NEUROSCIENCE AND
OTHER ULTRAFAST SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS

Spirit-NOPA-VISIR

Single shot to 4 MHz
Pump power up to 70 W
High pulse energy for 3-photon imaging
Broad tuning range: 650 nm to 900 nm (signal), 1200 nm to 2500 nm (idler)

The Spirit-NOPA^® is a family of automated non-collinear optical parametric amplifiers (NOPA) specifically built and optimized for the industry-proven Spirit^® and Spirit One™ ultrafast lasers. The turn-key, high repetition rate Spirit femtosecond laser combines with the Spirit-NOPA to create a powerful, user-friendly tunable, high repetition rate source of ultrashort pulses for in-vivo, deep tissue imaging in neuroscience, spectroscopy, and other ultrafast scientific applications.

Spirit-NOPA-VISIR delivering unprecedented performance for 3-photon imaging:

In combination with our industry-proven Spirit platform, the Spirit-NOPA-VISIR provides an ideal platform for 3-photon excitation microscopy. Spirit-NOPA-VISIR comprises two amplification stages. The first amplification stage is non-collinear, which generates broad bandwidth, and the second amplification stage is collinear, which enables a broad tuning range.

Spirit-NOPA-VISIR provides a broadly tunable output of ultrashort pulses with a tuning range of 650 nm to 900 nm (signal) and 1200 nm to 2500 nm (idler), including key wavelengths for deep-tissue, 3-photon imaging. Optionally, the signal output can be compressed down to <70 fs using an external prism-based compressor unit, and the idler output down to <100 fs, using an integrated bulk compressor. When pumped by a Spirit ultrafast laser with up to 70 W and at a repetition rate of up to 4 MHz, the Spirit-NOPA-VISIR enables unprecedented performance for 3-photon imaging.

In order to bridge the tuning gap between 900 nm and 1200 nm, Spirit-NOPA-VISIR can optionally be configured with the Dual Pulse Length Option. With that it is possible to extend the tuning range of the Spirit-NOPA-VISIR to that of a conventional OPA closing the gap between signal and idler.

Spirit-NOPA-3H, Spirit-NOPA-2H, and Spirit-NOPA-IR for ultrashort pulses from UV to IR:

Spirit-NOPA-3H includes a built-in third harmonic generator and its output is tunable from 500 nm to 900 nm with a pulse width as short as sub-30 fs and an output energy up to >0.5 μJ.

Spirit-NOPA-2H includes a built-in second harmonic generator, to convert the Spirit IR beam to 520 nm. The output of the Spirit-NOPA-2H is tunable from 650 nm to 900 nm with a pulse width as short as sub-30 fs and an output energy up to >3 μJ.

Spirit-NOPA is fully computer controlled to allow for easy wavelength tunability. Its built-in bandwidth selector and integrated computer controlled compressor provide a pulse width agility unmatched by other ultrafast laser technologies.

Applications

3-photon excitation microscopy

Single molecules studies

Nanomaterials science

Ultrafast surface dynamics

Multi-dimensional spectroscopy

Output Specifications - Spirit-NOPA-3H, -2H, and -IR Models

Spirit-NOPA Specifications¹


	Spirit-NOPA-3H	Spirit-NOPA-2H	Spirit-NOPA-IR
Tuning Range	500–900 nm	650-900 nm	1200-1600 nm
Pulse Energy²	0.5 μJ at 580 nm (peak) 0.25 μJ at 700 nm	3 μJ at 700 nm (peak) 1.2 μJ at 850 nm	6 μJ at 1300 nm 0.3 μJ at 1500 nm
Pulse Width	<30 fs at 530–670 nm <80 fs at 670–800 nm	<30 fs at 700-850 nm	<80 fs at 1200-1600 nm

Optional SHG Output


	Spirit-NOPA-3H,-2H,-IR	Spirit-NOPA-2H	Spirit-NOPA-IR
Tuning Range	250–450 nm	325–450 nm	600-800 nm
Pulse Energy²	0.05 μJ at 290 nm (peak)	0.3 μJ at 350 nm (peak)	0.06 μJ at 650 nm (peak)

Pump Requirements from Spirit⁴


	Spirit-NOPA-3H,-2H,-IR	Spirit-NOPA-2H	Spirit-NOPA-IR
Repetition Rate	Single shot to 1 MHz
Wavelength	1030 nm or 1040 nm
Pulse Energy⁵	12-120 μJ	10-120 μJ
Max. Input Power	8 W		16 W

Output Specifications - Spirit-NOPA-VISIR Model

Spirit-NOPA-VISIR Specifications¹


	Spirit-NOPA-VISIR
Tuning Range	650–900 nm (signal) 1200–2500 nm (idler)
Conversion Efficiency	>10% at peak, when pumped at >20 µJ >5% at peak, when pumped at 8–20 µJ (uncompressed signal + idler combined)
Pulse Width³	<350 fs uncompressed³ 5–70 fs at 650–900 nm with signal compressor 40–100 fs at 1200–2000 nm with idler compressor
Conversion Transmission	Signal prism compressor: >65% at 650–900 nm Idler bulk compressor: >80% at 1200–2000 nm

Optional SHG Output


	Spirit-NOPA-VISIR
Tuning Range	325–450 nm (SH of signal) 600–700 nm (SH of idler)
Pulse Energy	>10% of signal/idler at peak

Optional Dual Pulse Length Configuration


	Spirit-NOPA-VISIR
Tuning Range	650–1030 nm (signal) 1040–2500 nm (idler) Uncompressed output

Pump Requirements⁴ from Spirit


	Spirit-NOPA-VISIR
Repetition Rate	Single shot to 4 MHz
Wavelength	1030 nm or 1040 nm
Pulse Energy⁵	8–120 µJ
Max. Input Power	70 W

1. Due to our continuous product improvement program, specifications are subject to change without notice.
2. When pumped with 40 µJ at 1040 nm. For other pump levels, please contact Spectra-Physics.
3. Compressors for signal and/or idler are optionally included.
4. Spirit-NOPA pump parameters are determined at the time of order and are factory set.
5. Spirit-NOPA is optimized for one pump pulse energy only.