High-Repetition-Rate OPO Burst-Mode Tunable Laser

Beamtech High-Repetition-Rate OPO Burst-Mode Tunable Laser Successfully Applied to PLIF Flame Combustion Tests

Beamtech has successfully delivered a high-repetition-rate OPO burst-mode tunable laser system for high-temporal-resolution PLIF (Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence) flame combustion testing.

Designed for time-resolved laser diagnostics, the laser system combines a narrow-linewidth OPO tunable laser with a high-energy burst-mode Nd pump source. It provides wavelength-tunable nanosecond pulses together with high sub-pulse repetition rates, making it suitable for investigating rapidly changing flame and flow structures in combustion research.

Compared with conventional dye tunable laser configurations used in PLIF systems, the all-solid-state OPO architecture eliminates the need for dye replacement and handling while providing a more compact and intelligent operating platform.

Why Use an OPO Tunable Laser for PLIF?

PLIF requires the excitation wavelength to be accurately matched to the absorption transition of the target species. A tunable laser therefore provides greater flexibility for combustion diagnostics involving different measurement wavelengths and experimental conditions.

Beamtech's high-repetition-rate OPO system provides a 205–800 nm tunable wavelength range and precise wavelength control, enabling researchers to configure the excitation source according to their specific PLIF measurement requirements.

The all-solid-state architecture also simplifies routine operation compared with traditional dye-based tunable laser systems, particularly for laboratories performing repeated or long-term experiments.

High-Repetition-Rate Burst Mode for Time-Resolved PLIF

Many combustion phenomena develop on very short timescales. Conventional low-repetition-rate laser systems may only capture isolated states of a flame, while high-repetition-rate excitation allows consecutive measurements to be performed within a short observation window.

For this PLIF application, Beamtech combines the OPO with a high-repetition-rate, high-energy burst-mode YAG laser pump source. The sub-pulse repetition rate can be adjusted from 10 kHz to 1 MHz, providing the temporal flexibility required for high-speed PLIF measurements.

This configuration is particularly suitable for research involving transient flames, turbulent combustion, high-speed flow fields and other processes where both wavelength selectivity and temporal resolution are important.

High-Repetition-Rate OPO Burst-Mode Tunable Laser

Key Specifications:

• Output wavelength: 205–800 nm tunable; 1064 nm, 532 nm, 355 nm, 266 nm
• Pulse width: ~10 ns
• OPO pulse energy: 1–2 mJ @ 283 nm @ 20–50 kHz
• Sub-pulse energy @ 10 kHz: 1 J @ 1064 nm, 500 mJ @ 532 nm, 270 mJ @ 355 nm, 70 mJ @ 266 nm
• Burst-mode sub-pulse repetition rate: 10 kHz – 1 MHz adjustable
• Maximum number of sub-pulses per burst: 100 @ 10 kHz, 1,000 @ 100 kHz, 10,000 @ 1 MHz

Key Features:

• Wide wavelength tuning range, capable of measuring multiple species
• High precision wavelength control
• Compact footprint with intelligent control platform for easy operation
• Narrow nanosecond pulse width with adjustable range
• Strong external timing coordination and synchronization capability, compatible with various synchronization schemes

From Burst-Mode Pumping to Tunable PLIF Excitation

A key part of the system is Beamtech's high-energy burst-mode Nd laser technology.

Beamtech's Vlite Plus Burst-Mode Nd Laser is designed for applications requiring both high pulse energy and high repetition rates. It supports OPO pumping as well as time-resolved PIV and PLIF research, providing a flexible pump source for advanced optical diagnostics.

Learn more about the Beamtech Vlite Plus Burst-Mode Nd Laser

For applications requiring broadly tunable nanosecond output, Beamtech also develops integrated OPO tunable laser systems for spectroscopy, laser-induced fluorescence, LiDAR, photoacoustic imaging and other scientific research applications.

Explore Beamtech Tunable Lasers

Supporting Advanced Combustion and Flow Diagnostics

The successful PLIF flame combustion test demonstrates Beamtech's capability to develop customized laser sources for demanding scientific diagnostic systems.

By combining broad wavelength tunability, narrow nanosecond pulses, high pulse energy and high-repetition-rate burst operation, the system provides a practical laser source for researchers who require both spectral selectivity and high temporal resolution.

Beamtech continues to develop solid-state laser solutions for PLIF, LIF, PIV, OPO pumping, spectroscopy and advanced flow and combustion diagnostics, with configurations available according to wavelength, pulse energy, repetition rate, timing and synchronization requirements.

Looking for a tunable or burst-mode laser source for your PLIF experiment?
Contact Beamtech with your required excitation wavelength, pulse energy, repetition rate and synchronization conditions. Our technical team can recommend or customize a laser configuration according to your experimental setup.