Quantum Technology Research Solutions

Check out MKS Recommended Quantum Technology Research Products below to build an optical system that best fits your application.

The table below summarizes typical requirements for quantum technology research, and specifically, for quantum computing. Contact us to discuss specific needs of the system in your application.

Spectra-Physics and New Focus are leaders in tunable lasers ideal for applications in the Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) physics field, including precision spectroscopy, atomic cooling, optical clocks, microcavity resonators, and other quantum applications. Two types of continuous wave, tunable lasers are often used in quantum technology research: a ring laser and an external cavity diode laser (ECDL). The main criteria for selecting a laser include wavelength, power, tunable wavelength range, narrow linewidth and long term stability.

	Ring Laser	External Cavity Diode Laser
Output Power	Watts	Milliwatts
Tuning Range – Wide	Hundreds of nm with 1 optics set	≤100 nm
Tuning Range – Fine	˜50 kHz	˜50 kHz
Linewidth	As low as 30 kHz rms @ >100 msec	<2.5 kHz @ 5 µsec <200 kHz @ 50 msec
Power Stability	Flatness to within 5% across 50 GHz	<1%
Wavelength Stability	Ultra-Stability	High Stability
Fiber-Coupled Option	No	Yes

• Matisse® C Compact Ultra-Narrow Linewidth Tunable Ring Lasers: the industry’s highest output power, narrowest external linewidth and broadest tuning range.
• Velocity™ Widely Tunable ECDLs: offers both wide and fine wavelength tuning and narrowest linewidth.
• Vortex™ Plus Tunable ECDLs: narrowest linewidth and highest performance precision fine tuning.
• Vortex™ Plus with VAMP Tapered Amplifier: increases power of tunable, fixed-wavelength ECDLs.

	Matisse C	Velocity	Vortex Plus	Vortex Plus with VAMP
Max Output Power	>7.2 W (pumped with Millennia® eV laser)	60 mW (free space @ 1064 nm)	70 mW (free space @ 780 & 1064 nm)	>2 W (free space @ 780 nm)
Tuning Range – Wide	668-1068 nm with 1 optics set	407-412 to 2350-2450 nm	459-461 to 1520-1630 nm	765 to 915 nm
Tuning Range – Fine	>50 GHz + Scan Stitching for wide mode-hop-free tuning over full λ range	>120 GHz to >20 GHz	>120 GHz to >25 GHz
Tuning Resolution	50 kHz
Tuning Speed		≤20 nm/sec
Linewidth	<20 kHz rms @ > 100 µsec <30 kHz rms @ > 100 msec	<2.5 kHz @ 5 µsec <200 kHz @ 50 msec	<2.5 kHz @ 5 µsec <200 kHz @ 50 msec	Seed laser dependent
Power Stability		<1% (over 1 hour ±2°C)	<1% (over 1 hour ±2°C)	±1%, typical (seed laser dependent)
Wavelength Stability		2 pm (over 1 hour ±2°C)	2 pm (over 1 hour ±2°C)	Seed laser dependent
Other Features	Compact, sealed, fully automated design Intuitive GUI Control Special optical mounts for stability	Fiber-Coupled Option Mode-hop-free wide tuning Shock-proof, thermally insulated Magnetic damping	Fiber-Coupled Option Mode-hop-free tuning Magnetic damping	Safety shutoff feature at low power Heavy housing and heat sink

Continuous wave wavelength extenders, WaveTrain^® doubler and MixTrain™ frequency mixer, are available to augment the performance of the Matisse. With various configurations of Matisse C, WaveTrain, and MixTrain, MKS offers an all solid state solution for wavelengths ranging from 206 nm to 4.2 µm.

WaveTrain 2 Frequency Doubler	MixTrain Frequency Mixer
Frequency doubling of single-frequency CW lasers Can generate the 2nd harmonic of the output of the Matisse C Input wavelength range: 410 to 1600 nm Doubling efficiencies >35%	Sum or difference frequency mixing of single-freq CW lasers Input wavelength range: 690 to 1020 nm Sum output range: 422 to 670 nm Difference output range: 1.1 to 4.2 µm Sum frequency output power > 2W

For applications that require holding alignments in place, we offer a comprehensive range of vibration isolation and damping solutions to ensure a stable system.

	Breadboards	Workstations	Table Systems	Tables and Legs
Dimension	Few feet	Few feet	Several feet, custom sizes	Several feet, custom sizes
Thickness	Few inches	Few inches	Several inches, custom thickness	Several inches, custom thickness
Portability	Must be carried or placed on "cart"	Casters on legs are standard	Larger, heavier, optional casters	Larger, heavier, optional casters
Isolation	None	✓	✓	✓
Damping	✓	✓	✓	✓
Setup	Base model comes assembled	Base model comes assembled	Support frame included but not assembled May need help from riggers	Tables, legs sold separately May need help from riggers

Optical component mounts are needed to hold and adjust optics. Long term stability and low drift is crucial. Minimizing drift caused by vibrations or thermal drift over time will ensure laser alignment to the desired spot and also reduce any potential downtime due to misalignment and errors. Having a locking mechanism on these mounts can also prevent misalignment of the beam, especially during shipping and also if anything else happens during usage.

HVM industrial mounts are recommended for robust long term usage in compact space. The Suprema^® mirror mount is excellent for its stainless steel construction that gives better thermal performance than an aluminum mirror mount. Ultra-fine 254-TPI adjusters provide alignment sensitivity as low as 1.5 arc sec. For applications that are really concerned about the thermal changes that can be potentially caused by prolonged high powered laser usage, the ZeroDrift™ version will compensate for some thermal changes as well. For those mirror mounts that need to be set-and-forget for a long period of time, we recommend the MFM flexure mirror Mount. These are excellent for their small footprint so that machine size can be reduced.

• Suprema® Stainless Steel Mirror Mounts: the industry's best thermal performance for long-term stability.
• Ultima® Performance Aluminum Mirror Mounts: best aluminum mirror mount with excellent stability, usability and performance.
• Ultima® Picomotor™ Piezo Mirror Mounts: automated, ultra-fine resolution adjustments.
• M-Series Aluminum Mirror Mounts: the new standard for affordable mounts.

	Suprema	Ultima	Ultima Picomotor	M-Series
Optic Diameters	0.5, 1 and 2 in.	0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 in.	1, 2, 3 and 4 in.	0.5, 1 and 2 in.
Resolution	50, 100, 127 and 254 TPI	80, 100, and 170 TPI	0.7 µrad angular	100 TPI
Angular Range	±7°	±7°	±3°, ±3.5° and ±5°	±4°
Material	Stainless Steel	Anodized Aluminum	Anodized Aluminum	Aluminum
Drive Types	Knob Hex Key Exchangeable Actuators	Knob Hex Key Exchangeable Actuators	Picomotor Actuator	Knob Hex Key
Lockable Versions?	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Other Versions	Clear-Edge Front- and Rear-Loading Right- and Left-Handed Low Wavefront Distortion ZeroDrift™	Clear-Edge Right- and Left-Handed Low Wavefront Distortion	Clear-Edge Right- and Left-Handed	Clear-Edge Front- and Rear-Loading Right- and Left-Handed

• HVM Top-Adjust Mirror Mounts: for use in compact spaces so your hands do not have to cross the beam path for adjustment.
• MFM Flexure Mirror Mounts: designed for "set and forget" applications.

	HVM-Series	MFM-Series
Optic Diameters	0.5, 1 and 2 in.	0.5, 0.75 and 1 in.
Resolution	80 and 100 TPI	80 and 100 TPI
Angular Range	±2.5°, ±3° and ±3.5°	±2.5°
Material	Anodized Aluminum, Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel
Drive Types	Hex Key	Hex Key
Lockable Versions?	Yes	No
Other Features	Front- and Rear-Loading Versions	Shock Resistant Front- and Rear-Loading Versions Adhesive wells for permanent mounting

• A-Line™ Fixed Position Lens Mounts: fast, easy and economic mounting, aligning and focusing of optics.
• Compact Lens Positioners: ideal solution for applications with limited table space.
• LP Precision Multi-Axis Lens Positioners: highest performing lens positioners.

	A-Line	Compact	LP-Series
Optic Diameters	0.5 to 3 in.	0.5, 1 and 2 in.	0.5, 1 and 2 in.
Resolution	-	100 TPI	100 TPI
Adjustments	Fixed	XY, XYZ, XY θz, XYZθxθy, XYZ θxθyθz	XY, XYZ, XYZθxθy
Material	Aluminum	Aluminum	Aluminum
Other Features	Self-aligning design Large clear aperture Compatible with A-Line alignment system	Adapters for other optics Alignment pin holes	Zero-freeplay XY mechanism True Gimbal adjustments Independent non-influencing locks Adapters for other optics

• Ultima® Gimbaled Cube/Prism Mount: precision alignment of beamsplitter cubes and prisms.
• RSP High Performance Optic Rotation Mounts: smooth, continuous 360° rotation of optics.

	UGP-1	RSP-Series
Optic Size	0.5 and 1 in. cube	1 and 2 in.
Resolution	100 TPI	4 arc min
Angular Range	±5°	360°
Material	Aluminum	Aluminum
Drive Types	Knob w/ Hex Hole	Coarse: knurled edge Fine: knob
Lockable	Yes	Yes
Other Features	True gimbal motion Adapters for other optics	Full ball bearing races Adapters for other optics

• PX Forkless Optical Pedestals: Long-term stability of a pedestal at 1/3 the space.

	PX Post	PX Pedestal
Diameter	1 in.	1 in. with 1.25 in. flange
Heights	1, 2, 3 and 4 in.
Material	Stainless Steel
Other Features	Accessories for varying heights and mounting configurations

• AKP Kinematic Breadboard Adaptors: mount, remove and replace optical setups with very high positional and angular repeatability.

	AKP Adaptors
Kinematic Bases	Flat, Cone, V-Groove
Adapter Tops	Fixed, Adjustable
Drive Type	100 TPI Hex Key
Lockable?	Yes
Material	Aluminum

MKS provides standard manual and piezo positioning stages that are individually tested and guaranteed to have small deviation. Crossed-roller and gothic arch bearings provide high rigidity and precision motion while locking mechanism ensures long term stability.

• Multi-Axis Piezo Device Alignment Stages: automated, multi-axis nanometer-scale alignment of the sample to multiple lase beams.
• Gothic Arch Ball Bearing Linear Stages: automated, nanometer-scale movement.
• ULTRAlign™ Crossed-Roller Bearing Steel Linear Stages: highest precision and stability.
• 460P Modular, Peg-Joining Aluminum Linear Stages: easy, repeatable assembly of multi-axis positioning systems.

	Multi-Axis	Gothic Arch	ULTRAlign	460P Modular
Adjustments	XYθxθy, XYZθxθy, XYZθxθyθz	X, XY, XYZ	X, Z, XY, XZ, XYZ	X, XY, XYZ
Travel Range	3 mm and 8°	5, 12.7 and 25.4 mm	13 and 25 mm	13 and 25 mm
Angular Deviation		Pitch: <15 arc sec Roll: <10 arc sec Yaw: <20 arc sec	<100 µrad	<150 µrad
Bearings		Ball	Crossed-Roller	Ball
Material	Aluminum	Stainless Steel	Stainless Steel	Aluminum
Drive Types	Picomotor	Micrometer & Picomotor	Adjustment Screw Micrometer Motorized Actuator	Adjustment Screw Micrometer Motorized Actuator
Resolution/MIM	<30 nm	Micrometer: 50.8 TPI Picomotor: <30 nm	Actuator Dependent	Actuator Dependent
Lockable?	No	No	Yes	No
Other Features			Extra thick plates for more stability Low profile Right- and left-handed configurations	Patented peg joining system for excellent repeatability

Different types of optics are needed to route and manipulate the laser beams. They should work with the laser wavelengths which depend on the atomic transitions being excited, withstand the laser power requirements, and have proper shape and size to accommodate the increased component density.

• Broadband Metallic Mirrors: good performance and value over very broad spectral ranges.

Wavelengths	250-600 nm	450-700 nm	480-20000 nm	650-20000 nm
Coatings	UV Aluminum	Aluminum	Silver	Gold
CW Damage Threshold	100 W/cm2	100 W/cm2	1000 W/cm2	200 W/cm2
Reflectivity	>90%	>93%	>96%	>96%
Diameters	0.5 to 8 in.
Other Shapes	Square, Elliptical, D-shaped, Concave
Substrate Materials	Borofloat 33, Zerodur
Other Features	Insensitive to polarization and AOI

• Singlet Spherical Lenses: good performance and value over broad spectral ranges.

Wavelengths	245-440 nm	430-700 nm	650-1000 nm	1000-1550 nm
CW Damage Threshold	500 W/cm2	1000 W/cm2	1000 W/cm2	1000 W/cm2
Reflectivity per Surface	<0.5% coated, <4% uncoated
Diameters	0.25 to 3 in.
Shapes	Plano-Convex, Bi-Convex Plano-Concave, Bi-Concave
Substrate Materials	N-BK7, UV Fused Silica

• Broadband Cube Non-Polarizing Beamsplitters: even power split ratio, ideal for use with multiple lasers or tunable sources.
• Broadband Cube Polarizing Beamsplitters: high polarization extinction ratio, ideal for use with multiple lasers or tunable sources.

	Non-Polarizing BS	Polarizing BS
Wavelengths	400-700 nm 700-1100 nm 1100-1600 nm	420-680 nm 620-1000 nm 900-1300 nm 1200-1600 nm
CW Damage Threshold	100 W/cm2	2000 W/cm2
Reflectivity	45 ±5%	Rs > 99.5% average
Transmission	45 ±5%	Tp > 90% average
Sizes	0.25 to 2 in.	0.5 and 1 in.
Substrate Materials	N-BK7	SF2
Other Features	S- and P-polarization components matched to within 10%	High Extinction Ratio, Tp/Ts >500:1 (1000:1 average)

• Quartz Zero-Order Waveplates (λ/4 and λ/2): very high damage threshold, low sensitivity to temperature and wavelength variation.

	Zero-Order Waveplates
Wavelengths	266-1550 nm
CW Damage Threshold	2 MW/cm2
Reflectivity per Surface	<0.25%
Diameters	0.5 and 1 in.
Substrate Material	Quartz
Temperature Coefficient	0.0001 λ/°C
Retardation Accuracy	±λ/300

• Bandpass Filters: high out-of-band blocking and excellent temperature stability.

	Bandpass Filters
Center Wavelengths	310-900 nm
Bandwidth (FWHM)	As small as 10 nm
Out-of-Band Blocking	<0.01%
Wavelength Shift with Temperature	0.01 to 0.02 nm/°C
Other Features	Superior lifetime in harsh environments

Optical detector and power meter measure the power of the laser and monitor the optical signal. 918D series advanced photodiode sensors are calibrated for use with Newport power meters and offer lowest calibration uncertainty in the industry. Balanced detectors enable accurate measurement of extremely low power light by using two detectors to eliminate background noise. 818-BB detectors feature picosecond scale rise times for very fast signal detection.

• 918D Series Detectors: advanced photodiode detector with lowest uncertainty available.

Wavelengths	200-1100 nm	400-1100 nm	780-1800 nm	800-1650 nm
Detector Material	UV Si	Si	Ge	InGaAs
Sensor Size	Ø11.3 mm	Ø11.3 mm	Ø3 mm	Ø3 mm
Min Measurable Power (w/o attenuator)	20 pW	20 pW	5 nW	20 pW
Max Measurable Power (w/ OD3 attenuator)	200 mW	2000 mW	2000 mW	2000 mW
Rise Time	≤5.9 µs	≤2 µs	≤2 µs	≤2 µs
Calibration Uncertainty	±1% to ±4% (w/o attenuator)
Other Features	Switchable OD1, OD2 or OD3 attenuator Fiber-optic adapters available

• Handheld Power Meters: compatible with 918D detector and provide fast link to PC for lot to lot data storage.

1919-R High Performance Handheld Power Meter	843-R-USB Economical Handheld Power Meter
High performance portable use From pW to thousands of Watts Bar graph, simulate analog needle, line plot, stability, and real time statistical displays Advanced analytical functions	Economic portable use From pW to thousands of Watts Bar graph or simulated analog needle display Best for quick, basic measurements

• Balanced Photodetector: eliminates background noise for extremely low power measurements.

Wavelengths	400-1070 nm	800-1700 nm
3 dB Bandwidth	DC to 125 KHz
Common Mode Rejection	50 dB
Rise Time	3 µsec
Peak Responsivity	0.5 A/W	1.0 A/W
Optical Input	Free Space or Fiber-Coupled

• High Speed Optical Detectors: picosecond scale rise times to detect very fast signals.

Wavelengths	200-1100, 500-890, 800-1800, 830-2150 and 1000-1600 nm
Detector Materials	DSilicon, UV Enhanced Silicon, GaAs, InGaAs, Extended InGaAs
Detector Diameters	From 0.02 to 4.6 mm (most are <1 mm)
Rise Time	From 25 psec to 3 nsec (most are 10’s or 100’s of psec)
Optical Input	Free Space or Fiber-Coupled
Other Features	Available amplified or not amplified Battery biased

• Quantum Technology Research Brochure
• Lasers for Quantum Research