Low Power Sensor Selection Guide

Newport offers a complete line of optical meters and Low Power Sensors. Our sensor 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 Low Power Sensor

Click Low Power Sensors 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 Sensor Accessories. Our low power sensors offer the following features:

• 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 Photodiode Sensors	• 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 Low-Power Calibrated Photodiode Sensors	• 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 Low-Power Calibrated Photodiode Sensors	• 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 Calibrated Photodiode Sensors	• Rugged aluminum housing with ergonomic design • Si and UV-enhanced Si detectors available (200 – 1100 nm) • Slim design with an integrated sliding OD3 attenuator • Both DB15 (/DB) and 8-pin DIN (/CM) cal modules all detachable
	Photodiode Sensors, Ophir Compatible	• 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
	Integrating Sphere Fiber Optic Sensors	• 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
	Modular Integrating Sphere Sensors	• 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
	Pb and PbSe Photoconductor Sensors	• Excellent detectors for the 1 to 4.5 µm region • Low noise signal amplifier • Built-in bias supply • Selectable gains of 2, 10, and 50 • 1.5 Inch Series Flange Mount
	Flange Mount Photodiode Sensors	• Large area models • Room temperature and cooled models • Models with spectral calibration • 1.5 Inch Series Flange Mount
	TE Cooled HgCdZnTe Sensors	• 10 Hz to 140 kHz bandwidth • Broad spectral range - 2.8 to 6 µm • Complete, packaged systems

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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