918D-SL-OD3R In Stock

The Newport 918D-SL-OD3R is an advanced Optical Power Silicon Photodetector designed specifically for precise low optical power measurements. This sophisticated photodetector boasts several essential features to ensure accurate readings and compatibility with DB15 Power Meters. Key features of the 918D-SL-OD3R include an integrated calibration-data storage system, electronics that sense temperature, and a built-in OD3 attenuation filter with automatic on/off detection for reliable temperature drift compensation. These attributes significantly enhance measurement accuracy. The detector showcases excellent linearity across a wide dynamic range, making it ideal for applications requiring highly accurate measurements down to the pW level.

One standout feature of the 918D-SL-OD3R is the incorporation of a thermocouple near the photodiode, which enables compatible meters to read the temperature and automatically adjust the responsivity, ensuring utmost precision in measurements. The OD3 attenuator technology integrated into the photodetector extends the calibrated optical dynamic range by an impressive three decades. The attenuator design is engineered to provide a spectral flatness and high damage threshold, further enhancing the detector's capabilities. With its low NEP (Noise Equivalent Power), the 918D-SL-OD3R achieves a broader dynamic range. For input powers below 1 mW, it is recommended to deactivate the attenuator to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio.

The 918D-SL-OD3R is equipped with a 15-pin D-Sub type connector, which must be attached to the back or side panel of compatible optical meters. To ensure reliable electrical connectivity, it is advised to hand-tighten the thumbscrews located on both sides of the connector. Inside the photodiode housing, a temperature sensor provides real-time temperature readings back to the controller card, which maintains the temperature at an optimal level. The front panel display of the instrument indicates when the optimal temperature level is achieved, signaling that the detector is ready for measurements. To accommodate various setups, the 918D-SL-OD3R can be post mounted or attached to an optional base plate, enabling placement on a flat surface or bolting to an optical table.

The design of the 918D-SL-OD3R ensures precise alignment of the laser beam onto the photodiode. This is achieved by positioning the optical axes of the internal photodiode directly over the mounting hole located on the bottom surface of the detector. For user convenience, the 918D-SL-OD3R includes a built-in EEPROM that stores responsivity data for the detector, both with and without the attenuator filter in the beam path. The "hot-pluggable" feature allows this data to be automatically uploaded onto the power meter when the detector is connected for the first time, enabling wavelength-specific responsivity corrections. Additionally, the photodiode features a thermistor that measures the detector's temperature, facilitating numerical corrections of the responsivity based on temperature variations.