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BBO Pockels Cells

Beta-Barium Borate (b-BaB2O4) is the electro-optic material of choice for high average power Pockels cell applications ranging from 300nm in the UV to beyond 2µm in the IR. BBO has important advantages over alternative materials such as KD*P or LiNbO3 in terms of its power handling abilities, temperature stability and near total absense of piezoelectric ringing. Electro-optic Pockels cells are used in applications that require fast switching of polarization direction of the beam of light. The switching time of a BBO Pockels cell is very fast, while the wide transparency range allows it to be used in diverse applications.

Applications for BBO Pockels cells include Q-switching of laser cavities, coupling light into - and out of - ultrafast regenerative amplifiers, and (when used with polarisers) light intensity modulation. Pockels cells are characterised by a fast response, since the Pockels effect is largely an electronic one that produces a linear change in refractive index when an electric field is applied. Because of crystal symmetry and the desire for the light beam to experience no birefringence in the absence of an electric field, Inrad BBO Pockels cells are transverse-field devices.

Further Information Related Products
» Inrad BBO Pockels Cells Datasheet » Inrad Crystal Optics

â–º The Standard BBO Pockels Cell, PBC05-DC04

The standard Inrad BBO Pockels cell, model PBC05-DC04 is a single crystal device with a 3.5mm aperture and a quarter wave voltage of 4.8kV at 1064nm. Single pass transmission of the cell at the design wavelength is > 98%. The PBC05 Q-switch has a compact housing measuring 1" diameter by 2" long. Electrical connection is by means of miniature "banana" connectors with mating connectors provided.

â–º The Small Aperture BBO Pockels Cell, PBC05-DC03

The PBC05-DC03 is a smaller aperture BBO Pockels cell with a 2.5mm aperture and quarter wave voltage of 3.4kV at 1064nm.

â–º Large Aperture BBO Pockels Cells, PBC06 Series

The PBC06-DC06 and PBC06-DC04 feature two BBO crystals in series with apertures of 5.5 and 3.5mm and quater wave volates of 3.5 and 2.4kV at 1064nm respectively.

Specifications & Ordering Information

 

PBC05-DC04/1064

PBC05-DC03/1064

PBC06-DC06/1064

PBC06-DC04/1064

Aperture Diameter

3.5mm

2.5mm

5.5mm

3.5mm

No. Crystals

1

2

Quarter Wave Voltage (1064nm)

4.8kV

3.6kV

3.6kV

2.4kV

Intrinsic Contrats (1064nm)

> 1000:1

> 500:1

Optical Transmission

> 98% T

> 97% T

Damage Threshold *
(ns pulses)

> 500MW/cm2

Damage Threshold *
(cw power)

> 3kW/cm2

Wavefront Distortion (1064nm)

< l/8

         
         
         
Electrical Contacts        

* Damage threshold figures are for guidance only and are not guaranteed

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