The Unversity of Ottawa is pleased to invite qualified proponents to submit a proposal for a high-power, supercontinuum source spanning the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) spectrum with variable repetition rate and an associated tunable spectral filter. When integrated with existing microscopy equipment, this source will enable novel investigations into the relationships between various quantum emitters and nanostructures.
General Description:
The instrumentation will include a laser source capable of generating short optical pulses that can be tuned across the visible and NIR spectrum, then incorporated into a confocal microscopy system with sufficient efficiency as to excite single photon emitters within the focal spot, thus enabling photon lifetime measurements of a wide variety of single photon emitters in various environments. Because the emitters and their environments will show significant variance in the wavelength of the desired excitation pulse, emitted photon and the mean photon lifetime between excitation and emission, this excitation source must not only be broadly spectrally tunable, but also be capable of varying the repetition rate. An excitation source of sufficient flexibility will enable significant advancements in single photon emission control, emitter-enhanced microscopy and YYY.
Mandatory Requirements:
1. Supercontinuum Laser Pump
1.1 Must be capable of producing temporally compact light emission to serve as an optical pump (pulses duration must be ≤150 ps)
1.2 Broad spectrum of available light across VIS and NIR must be from 450 – 2200 nm.
1.3 Output power must be ≥1 mW/nm across the available spectrum
1.4 Variable repetition rate must be from a minimum of 0.2 to 78 MHz, or greater
1.5 Tunable spectral filtering across available spectrum with spectral bandwidths must be ≤2 nm in VIS and ≤10 nm in NIR
1.6 Spectral out-of-band suppression must be at least 40 dB
1.7 Solution must be capable of trigger/clock out for synchronization between laser and detection software
1.8 A Library of commands/scripts for automation of operation must be included (e.g. Python, LabVIEW Vis)
1.9 Data output must be compatible with Windows 10 or 11 (e.g. USB or ethernet)
1.10 Must be capable of experiment data acquisition for a minimum of 72 consecutive hours
2. Other Requirements
2.1 Installation and training must be included.
2.2 Must include one (1) year warranty on parts and labor.
2.3 All electrical components must be CSA certified or equivalent; as per the Electrical Safety Authority Recognized Certification Mark: https://esasafe.com/electrical-products/recognized-certification-marks/
If any electrical components do not arrive with an acceptable certification marking, uOttawa must be allowed to open/modify the instrument as required in order to have it CSA Certified. Said inspection/modification, if required, must not void any warranty.
2.4 Must be capable of providing options for up to a total of five (5) years of warranty.
