58 -- SOLID STATE, SEALED, AND SINGLE-FREQUENCY 8 WATT LASER SYSTEM

Notice Date

November 17, 2000

Contracting Office

National Institute of Standards & Technology, Acquisition & Assistance Div.,100 Bureau Drive Stop 3572, Bldg. 301, Rm B117, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-3572

ZIP Code

20899-3572

Solicitation Number

53SBNB167003

Response Due

November 30, 2000

Point of Contact

Brenda K. Lee (301) 975-6394

E-Mail Address

NIST Contracts Office (Contract@nist.gov)

Description

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Coherent Laser Group, 1251 S. Gaylord Street, Denver, CO 80210 under authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) for a VERDI Solid State, Sealed Single-Frequency 8 Watt Laser System Part No. VERDI -V8 in accordance to the following specifications: 1. (a) Power greater than 8W; (b) Wavelength 532nm; (c) Noise less than 0.04% rms from 10Hz to 1GHz; (d) Linewidth less than 5MHz, single longitudinal mode; (e) Power Stability plus or minor 1% over 2 hours after a 15 minute warm-up; (f) Pointing Stability less than 5 microrad/degree Celsius. 2. The laser shall deliver non-mode-hop, single-longitudinal-mode output; i.e., linewidth shall be under 5MHz. The laser system shall not be based on a multi-axial design (MAD or QMAD) because of the mode-beating noise inherent in the design. 3. The laser shall have a noise performance of lower than 0.04% rms from 10Hz to 1GHz. 4. The laser head shall be fully hermetically sealed, to prevent all dust, room environmental contamination (i.e., solvents, media or other airborne contaminants) from ever interfacing with sensitive optics. 5. When replacing the pump laser diode modules, the laser head position and beam propagation path shall not change, nor shall the laser cavity require any realignment or exposure to the laboratory environment, therefore, the pump diode module and the delivery fiber must detach from each other. The delivery fiber shall not detach at the laser head when replacing the laser pump diode module. 6. To ensure maximum pump diode lifetime, the pump diodes shall be manufactured using aluminum-free active area diodes. Diodes using aluminum (Al) in the active region are unacceptable because of shortened lifetime caused by aluminum (Al) oxidation-induced optical failure. 7. To ensure maximum pump diode lifetime, the laser system shall automatically and continuously optimize the pump diode wavelength to maximize optical conversion efficiency. The systems shall not use an assumed pre-programmed decay rate. 8. All optical elements shall be permanently fixed and aligned in the optical cavity for long term ease of use and reliability. The system shall not be of any kind of adjustable optic mounts. Re-adjustment of laser optics shall not be required if the pump laser is moved or repositioned. 9. All specifications must be clearly stated in published vendor brochures and/or data sheets. This laser is going to be used as a pump laser for a femto-second laser that must be compatibility with NIST Giga Optics, Ingenieurburo H.A. Bartels in Aachen Germany. These femto-second pulses are going to be used for realizing a frequency comb in the optical spectrum with the use of a microstructure optical fiber. NIST requires a way of realizing the length unit as defined in the SI system of units. In accordance to the mode locking stability, comb width and stability, noise consideration, a single frequency 532 nm, low noise, pump laser of output power greater than 8 W with a good beam pointing stability is decisive (see specifications identified above 1, 2, and 3). NIST plan to split of a fraction of the 532nm light to be used for high resolution spectroscopy in iodine, which also makes it necessary to have a single frequency laser with a linewidth of less than 5 MHz (see specification 1 and 2 identified above). The complete system is going to work as both a stationary standard and to be transported to different labs. Requirements on reliability, lifetime and ease of maintenance are therefore essential (see specifications identified above 4,5,6,7 and 8). Coherent Laser Group is the only source who can provide the Verdi-V8 Laser System because it is an all-solid-state, diode-pumped, frequency doubled Nd: YV04 laser providing single-frequency cw green output (532m,) at poser levers over 8W. The system features ultra-low noise with a near diffraction-limited beam, and has a compact, sealed head with a rack-mountable power supply. Using the Permalign manufacturing process, the optical components inside the laser head are fixed permanently in place so that you never have to clean or align the laser. The hand-off solid state systems are required for the NIST laboratories and commercial OEM applications. Required delivery 17 weeks ARO. FOB Destination Boulder, CO The contractor shall provide one set of operational manuals and a 12 month warranty. The Contractor must be able to meet all the specifications stated herein. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, all quotations received by November 30, 2000 will be considered by the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The anticipated award date of the contract is on or around December 1, 2000. If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please contact Brenda K. Lee at the telephone number identified above. Tech Reviewer's Initials_____________ Contracts Reviewer's Initials:____________

Web Link

NIST Contracts Homepage (http://www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001121/58SOL001.HTM (W-322 SN5069I9)