Calibrated Optical Detector Selection Guide

Additional Documentation

Technical Note

Optical Power and Energy Meter Selection Guide

Technical Notes

Laser Intensity Noise Measurement

Tutorials

Optical Power Measurement

InGaAs vs Ge Detectors

Newport offers a complete line of optical meters and Optical Detectors. Four types of photodetectors can be used with our optical meters: Low-Power Semiconductor Photodiodes, High-Power Thermopile Detectors, Pyroelectric Energy Detectors and Integrating Spheres. This detector line is very flexible and can be used to measure power and energy with both free-space and fiber optic inputs.

The following tables, in combination with the Detector Performance Charts, should help identify the optical meter/detector combination appropriate for your particular optical measurement needs. It is always a good idea to select a detector that suits your needs before selecting an optical meter.

Selecting a Calibrated Optical Detector

Click Calibrated Optical Detectors to shop or browse all of our standard models, or select a product series below to learn more about our products and capabilities. We also offer a complete line of Power and Energy Meters. We also offer a full line of Photodiode Detector Accessories.

Photodiode Optical Detectors

• Complete fiber optic and free space optic accessories available
• Highest quality photodiodes are used
• Low NEP (noise equivalent power) with wide dynamic ranges
• EMI/RFI shield to minimize noise from environment

Series		Features and Benefits
	Low-Cost Calibrated Photodetectors	• Low Cost, ideal for low budget and low power applications • Power levels from pW to 3 mW • Detachable Calibration Modules • /DB suffix indicates DB15 calibration module, no /CM models
	818 Series Low-Power Calibrated Photodetectors	• Industry standard models with broad customer base • Power levels from pW to 3 W via a matching OD3 attenuator • Both DB15 (/DB models) and 8-pin DIN (/CM models) calibration modules available, all detachable
	918D Series Low-Power Calibrated Photodetectors	• Power levels from pW to 3 W with an integrated OD3 attenuator • Buily-in therminstor for automatic thermal drift compensation • Built-in attenuator On/OFF sensor • Designed for lowest noise operation • DB15 calibration module only
	Wand Style UV/Si Calibrated Photodetectors	• Si and UV-enhanced Si detectors available (200 – 1100 nm) • Slim design with an integrated sliding OD3 attenuator • UV detector comes with a highly protective and rugged aluminum housing • Both DB15 (/DB models) and 8-pin DIN (/CM models) calibration modules available, all detachable
	Ophir Photodiode Sensors	• Compatible with Ophir power meters • Spectral range including UV and IR • Large dynamic range • Swivel mount for hard to measure places • Comes with filter in / filter out options • NIST traceable
	Fiber Optic Detectors	• Integrating sphere design enabling the most accurate and polarization independent measurements from all fiber optic sources • Continuous measurements over the entire 400–1650 nm wavelength range • Optical power input up to 200 mW • Bare fiber and FC, ST, LC, and SC connector adapters included
	Integrating Sphere Detectors	• 2", 3.3" and 5.3" sphere size available • Si or InGaAs detectors used • Measurements insensitive to exact detector positioning • Signal attenuation, advantageous in measurement of high-power beams

Thermal and Pyroelectric Detectors

Thermal detectors response slow to optical power inputs but can handle high optical power, therefore, they are suitable for measuring average power of a cw or pulsed laser. Pyroelectric detectors measure pulse energy of high power pulsed lasers with kHz or less rep rate.

Series		Features and Benefits
	Low Power Thermopile Sensor, 1 uW - 3 Watt	• Capable of measuring down to uW level optical power • Broadband flat spectral response from 0.19–11 um (818P-001-12) • Low thermal drift of 6 uW/C (818P-001-12NIR) • Insensitive to beam position • Carefully designed to minimize thermal drift
	Calibrated Thermopile Detectors	• Ideal for high power laser cw power measurement • Very high sensitivity to optical power • High damage threshold • Broadband flat spectral response from 0.19–11 µm • Insensitive to beam position
	3 kW Calibrated Thermopile Detector	• Measuring up to 3 kW continuous optical power • Carefully designed to reduce sensitive to cooling water temperature • Compatible with Newport power meters (requires electrical power via USB cable) • Directly linkable to a computer without a power meter
	Ophir Thermopile Sensors	• Compatible with Ophir optical power meters • Spectrally flat • Convection air or fan cooled • Fast response time • Low, medium or high power sensors (3W-10kW) • Apetures upto 50 mm
	Ophir Pyroelectric Sensors	• Compatible with Ophir Power and Energy Meters • Up to 46 mm apetures • Highest sensitivity sensors • Metallic coating for high rep rates • Measure lasers with pulse widths up to 20 ms • Wide spectral range
	Calibrated Pyroelectric Sensors	• Ideal for high pulse energy measurement from 0.19 – 11 um • High repetition rates • High damage threshold

Power Meter and Detector Compatibility Chart

The following table provides an easy compatibility chart for Newport’s various active and obsolete optical power meters and detectors. Also see Optical Power and Energy Meter Selection Guide.

Notes: √ indicates that the power meter and the optical detector combinations are directly compatible, while "blank" indicates incompatible. Otherwise, an adapter is required as mentioned in the table.
* 8-pin CM or 15-pin CM indicate that a 8-pin or a 15-pin calibration module is required, respectively. Please contact Newport to obtain one at 1-800-222-6440 or Tech@newport.com.

1) Power meter dependent. Minimum 1% duty cycle is recommended.
2) Maximum peak power density for OD3 attenuator that comes with the 818/918D Series detectors is 2W/cm².
3) Upper power limit depends on several factors, e.g., sphere size, port aperture size and wavelength.
4) These detectors actually measure power, but the energy can be derived by the calculation, energy = power/(rep rate).

Detector Performance Charts

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