HeNe Laser Heads
1. What are HeNe Laser Heads?
The HeNe laser head is the core component of the HeNe laser (HeNe Laser). It generates stimulated emission through a mixture of helium and neon gases under low-pressure discharge and outputs continuous laser light of a specific wavelength. Its typical wavelength is 632.8 nm (red light), and there are also variants such as green light (543.5 nm) and yellow light (594 nm).
2. What are the Key Parameters of HeNe Laser Heads?
Output power: Covering the range of 0.3 mW to 35 mW, such as Pacific Lasertec’s 25-LHP-828 model outputs 25 mW red light, and the Lumentum 1100 series provides high power stability and low noise performance.
Wavelength and polarization: The main wavelength 632.8 nm (red light) is optional for random polarization or linear polarization, and green light models (such as 543.5 nm) are often used for special applications.
Mode characteristics: Longitudinal mode spacing is about 165 MHz, spectral bandwidth is about 1400 MHz (FWHM) and has a long coherence length (about 30 cm).
Stability: Long-term power drift <5% (8 hours), amplitude noise peak-to-peak value <2%.
3. What are HeNe Laser Heads Used for?
Industry and scientific research: metrology, interferometry, clean room monitoring, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, etc.
Medical and biotechnology: medical equipment calibration, imaging system, food sorting.
OEM integration: As a modular component, it can be integrated into the customer’s own system to support customized needs.
4. What are the Technical Features of HeNe Laser Heads?
Gain medium: Helium-neon mixed gas (ratio 5:1 to 20:1), excited by high-voltage discharge.
Optical resonant cavity: A combination of a flat high-reflection mirror and an output coupling mirror is used, with a transmittance of about 1%.
Heat dissipation and sealing: Tight cathode design accelerates discharge heat dissipation, and hard-sealed internal reflectors extend service life.
Environmental adaptability: Operating temperature range -20 °C to 80 °C, supports high altitude and humidity environments.
5. Mainstream Brands and Models of HeNe Laser Heads
Pacific Lasertec: Provides red light (25-LHP-828), green light (25-LGP-151-230), and stabilized frequency models, compatible with Melles Griot specifications.
Lumentum 1100 series: Covers multiple wavelengths (red/green/yellow/orange), known for low noise and high stability, suitable for precision instruments.
6. Safety and Certification of HeNe Laser Heads
Complies with IEC 60825-1 (Class 3B), CE, FDA, and other standards to ensure safe use in industrial and laboratory environments.
HeNe Laser Heads FAQs
1) What precautions should be taken when installing and using HeNe Laser Heads?
Do not apply bending force to the laser housing, otherwise, the laser cavity components may be offset or damaged, affecting the beam quality, power, or directivity.
It is recommended to use a cage assembly or ring accessories to fix the housing to avoid directly taking it through the housing.
It should be handled with care during installation to avoid impact and vibration to prevent the internal glass components from breaking.
2) What wavelengths and output powers do HeNe laser heads support?
Some models support multi-wavelength tuning, such as 543 nm, 594 nm, 604 nm, 612 nm , and 633 nm, with corresponding output powers of 0.3 mW, 0.6 mW, 0.5 mW, 2.5 mW , and 4.0 mW.
The typical output power of the red light model (632.8 nm) is 1.6 mW.
3) What are the typical application scenarios of HeNe laser heads?
High-power models are suitable for high-speed scanning, long-distance beam transmission, and high signal-to-noise ratio requirements.
Tunable models are suitable for multi-wavelength experiments and precision spectral analysis.
4) How to extend the service life of the laser head?
Avoid mechanical stress during transportation or storage. Factory packaging can protect against transportation shock.
Ensure a stable power supply. Some models require an external power supply (such as a switching power supply).
5) What factors may cause damage to the laser head?
Careless handling or installation (such as stress on the housing) is the main cause of damage.
Long-term exposure to high temperature or vibration environment may affect performance.
Appendix:
Typical HeNe laser head parameter examples (taking 25-LHP-828 as an example)
|
Parameters |
Value/Description |
|
Wavelength |
632.8 nm (Red Light) |
|
Output power |
≥25 mW (Random polarization) |
|
Beam diameter (1/e² point) |
1.23 ±5% mm |
|
Divergence angle |
0.66 ±5% mrad |
|
Operating voltage |
5100 ±100 VDC |
|
Certification standards |
IEC 60825-1、CE、RoHS 3 |