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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Deep UV laser diodes?

Joined
Apr 12, 2013
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Hello!

I was wondering if any of you know where Deep UV laser diodes/modules (within the 200-300 nm range) could be ordered from or have seen any available anywhere?

Probably due to their potentially highly-hasardous character, they seem to be kept for strict lab research purpose, but some people may be interested in them for more unofficial research...

Just wondering.
 
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Joined
Dec 11, 2011
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There has been some very minimal R&D done in the UV diode field. There are diodes out there but there lacks a commercial application, so they are not made en masse, the result is prices prohibitive to individuals. I inquired about a UVA diode some time last year and was quoted over $5000 per diode.

"Deeper" UVA LEDs are just beginning to drop in price to a purchase able level - still well over $40/diode. Laser diodes are much harder to make than LEDs, so unless a vibrant commercial application for UV LDs springs up we won't see lower prices.

I've been wanting a UV laser for years now but there isn't much to choose from;
TEA Nitrogen Laser - DIY, high voltage, very bulky and immobile.
Q-Switched Trippled Nd:YAG - very expensive lab unit
UV Line Argon Ion - very rare, very expensive, very big

I might be forgetting some, feel free to correct or add to it.
 
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read about excimer lasers. Thanks Cyparagon for the link, now my brain hurts :) Was awesome. New word for the day "ablation".
 
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cev1

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Apr 14, 2011
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To my knowledge, nothing below 370nm is available commercially yet. There are publications on diodes working in the 340nm range, but these are research efforts.

The materials are all understood to produce diodes down into the 200nm range. The secret sauce is removing imperfections to the level required to (1) lase and (2) not die immediately. There are some remarkably complex processes required to produce the pure crystalline layers on such tiny scales. If I recall correctly, one of the biggest breakthroughs to UV diodes was growing the stacks on structured (rather than flat) substrates. The crystal would be pure enough to make a diode only at certain places above the structure.

Excimer lasers are horrible. Anything with "F" in the name can kill you if you do things wrong. Anything with "C" in the name will corrode itself and your entire lab if you don't maintain in constantly. I don't think "Br" is a whole lot better than either of those options.
 

cev1

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LED rather than LD.

I have a Spectroline UV-4BNF 254/365nm black lamp for looking at minerals. Do you have any feel for how the flashlight compares to the blacklamp?

I remember seeing at least one working tripled YAG in the $1K range. These are pulsed lasers, so the peak power is huge and the potential for destruction is drastically higher than for a CW laser.
 
Joined
Apr 12, 2013
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read about excimer lasers. Thanks Cyparagon for the link, now my brain hurts :) Was awesome. New word for the day "ablation".

Well that's what I was referring to in terms of "highly-hasardous"...

Not really interested in disintegrating anyone... it's a bit too rude!:p
 
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Joined
Sep 12, 2007
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Cev, a flashlight is better for directed light. The fluorescent definitely has more light output, but an LED can be better directed at your target for a potentially higher power density. It's a trade-off.


That's a terrible price for a dim piece of unregulated garbage. Get one of these instead if you want 365.
I measured it personally; it is regulated and it is 365nm. It needs 7.2V though, the 4V is an error.
 
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Joined
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Mistakes were made... Others will be blamed...

Turned out alright though, I don't have any deep regrets on the purchase.
 
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