NIST-SS25-27

6695 / 334516

Title: Widely Tunable IR Laser

BACKGROUND

The Photonics and Optomechanics Group developing cutting-edge nanophotonic and cavity optomechanical devices so signal processing, microscopy and sensing. As part of our research on photonic MEMS sensors, we require a short-wave infrared laser with tunable wavelength over a specific wide range. This laser will be used to interrogate micro- and nanophotonic waveguides and cavities for the precision measurement of displacement.

NIST has a need for widely tunable IR laser that meets or exceeds the following draft minimum specifications:

Line Item 0001:

Description:  Widely tunable IR laser.

Quantity:  One (1)

Technical Specifications:

The tunable laser must have a mode-hop free range that is at least 100 nm wide. The controller must have an interactive screen for selecting operational modes, setting parameters, visualizing optical resonances of an optically interrogated cavity as the laser tunes, and selecting resonances. The controller must be fully digital with 24-bit inputs for the best control resolution. The laser must also include a single mode fiber coupled output. The laser wavelength must be tunable using a coarse motion stage and a piezoelectric motion stage. These tuning methods must be able to operate simultaneously. The laser and power and control electronics must meet or exceed the following specifications:

1. Mode-Hop Free Wavelength Range: at least 1420 nm to 1520 nm
2. Nominal power: at least 15 mW across wavelength range
3. Typical linewidth: < 20 kHz over 5 microseconds
4. Beam polarization: Linear > 100:1
5. Fiber coupling efficiency: > 50%
6. Optical isolation efficiency: > 60 dB
7. Optical isolator transmission: > 70% 
8. Piezo optical frequency scan range: at least 30 GHz
9. Maximum wavelength scan speed: > 8 nm/s
10. Smallest possible change in laser frequency: < 5 kHz

Line Item 0002: OPTION 1

Description:  Integrated lock electronics.

Quantity:  One (1)

Technical Specifications:

The control electronics must include proportion-integral-derivative (PID) controllers and algorithms for locking to the top and side of an optical resonance. The controller must have an interactive screen for selecting visualizing optical resonances of an optically interrogated cavity as the laser tunes and selecting resonances for locking.

1. PID controller bandwidth: > 25 kHz
2. Modulation frequency for resonance locking: Up to 150 kHz

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QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS NOTICE

Questions regarding this notice may be submitted via email to the Primary Point of Contact and the Secondary Point of Contact listed in this notice. Questions should be submitted so that they are received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 9, 2025.  Questions will be anonymized and answered via sources sought notice amendment following the question submission deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTES

The information received in response to this notice will be reviewed and considered so that the NIST may appropriately solicit for its requirements in the near future. 

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Thank you for taking the time to submit a response to this request.