Our products occupy a distinct position in the broader landscape of short-pulse lasers.
While approaching the pulse durations of complex mode-locked systems, they preserve the simplicity, compactness, and cost profile of passively Q-switched microchip lasers.
To understand the underlying technology, explore the following technical articles:
Single-frequency picosecond microchip lasers
Picophotonics lasers are diode-pumped solid-state microchip (DPSS) lasers incorporating proprietary semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) technology for passive Q-switching. This approach allows pulse durations down to 50 ps, high repetition rates, and a narrow, stable spectrum, all within a robust, ultracompact package. The design offers excellent SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost), making it ideal for OEM integration while maintaining high optical performance suitable for industrial, analytical, and scientific applications.
100 ps laser performance
Our microchip technology delivers significantly shorter pulses than typical passively Q‑switched lasers, reaching down to 50 ps and 100 ps. This enables higher peak powers, reduced thermal load, and enhanced resolution for time‑resolved spectroscopy, imaging, and high precision sensing in LIDAR applications.
Single-frequency spectrum
Our laser platform naturally offers a stable, mode-hop free, single-frequency spectrum (< 0.06 nm). This ensures precision and repeatability in demanding applications such as time-resolved spectroscopy and nonlinear processes.
High repetition rate
SESAM-based Q-switching enables tunable repetition rates from single-shot up to several hundred kilohertz, without the need for external pulse pickers. This enables compact, cost-efficient integration into high-speed sensing and analytical systems.
Proven reliability
Designed for industrial use, our platforms have demonstrated operation lifetimes exceeding 10,000 hours, delivering consistent performance and minimizing service downtimes.
OEM microchip structure
Microchip technology provides an excellent size-to-performance ratio. Our patented laser design further enhances compactness without compromising optical stability or output quality, enabling seamless integration into portable and space-constrained instruments.
Cost-effective
Our microchip platform brings picosecond performance to cost-sensitive markets, enabling integrators to deploy high-performance lasers in next-generation devices. European technology combined with scalable structure makes these lasers ideal for high volume applications.
Explore our laser platforms Technology Description
Understanding the technology
Q-switched or Mode-locked lasers
Compare two of the most widely used short-pulse laser technologies and understand how pulse duration, pulse energy and system complexity influence application suitability.Read Article
Passive or Active Q-switching
Learn how different Q-switching approaches generate short laser pulses and why passive SESAM-based designs are particularly attractive for compact OEM instrumentation.Read article
Testimonials
Dr. Jack C. Gartside
Assistant Professor
Imperial College London
In our Nanomagnetism & Nanophotonics Research Groups at Imperial, we have requirements for compact, power efficient, cost-effective and ultimately powerful & flexible pulse lasers - which were very challenging to meet all at once with a single device. We have been exceptionally impressed with the hardware, customer service, and value for money provided by Picophotonics products. The level of control, power, and pulse durations offered at a competitive pricepoint is extremely impressive - we have found roles for Picophotonics pulse lasers in all-optical nanomagnetic switching experiments, neuromorphic photonic neural networks, and a variety of other diverse & demanding nanoscale experimental avenues.
Picophotonics Team has been very helpful, creative, and we have already recommended their laser products to several collaborators who are also very happy with their purchase.
Publications
Few-Shot Retinomorphic Vision in a Nonlinear Photonic Network Laser
22nd of July 2024
Wai Kit Ng et. al., Imperial College London
https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.15558
Enhanced resolution optoacoustic microscopy using a picosecond high repetition rate Q-switched microchip laser
29th of November 2022
Gianni Nteroli et. al., University of Kent
https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.27.11.110501
REAP: revealing drug tolerant persister cells in cancer using contrast enhanced optical coherence and photoacoustic tomography
6th of April 2021
Mengyang Liu et. al., Medical University of Vienna
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2515-7647/abf02f
Related Publications
Time-Resolved Raman Spectrometer With High Fluorescence Rejection Based on a CMOS SPAD Line Sensor and a 573-nm Pulsed Laser
2021, T. Talala et al., University of Oulu
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9335980
See also our Time-Resolved Raman Spectroscopy application page.