Any way to detect 3390nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

Just got a PMS/REO IR HeNe head in which the plasma seems just fine, but I've not been able to check on the existence of a beam or not.

As far as I understand, 1.15uM/1150nm is a bit above the limits of what silicon can see.

Is tehre anything I can use to see this high into IR, or any way to check the beam on this thing?

Figured some of the old gas and HeNe experts here may know a way.

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

Hey this should work! Its an IR indicator card!

Laser display card,infrared viewer for infrared laser.

I've actually been poking around for a 1150nm source for awhile now, and didn't know HeNe emitted there. I'll need more power though if I want to direct double it with some BiBo. :evil:

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

Thanks for the heads up Meatball, that looks exactly what i'm looking for, now only if I could find it stateside; CNI would probably charge $80 just to ship the thing.

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

This one looks to be stateside... Petra 72-6772 IR INDICATOR CARD- LxWxH=3.5x2x0.25

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

That'll work! +1 on that, thanks a lot. Seems like nothing in my camera arsenal can see that high

Here's the funny thing. The warning sticker says 1.15uM, but hte model number is LHIP-0101-339. Which means this may be 3390nm! We'll see which, depending on if the card detects it.

I remembering seeing card detectors that would go that high somewhere.. I know some of these were actually multiline 1150/3390.

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

Hmm... well usually the warning stickers are the first to be wrong. I might bet that the model number is the more accurate way to tell which laser you have.

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

In which case - no wonder my camera didn't see it. Apparently PbSe is used to detect at this wavelength but I don't know if it's something that exists in a card like that.

I ordered one of the cards anyhow, since I figure it may come in handy, so thanks for that, but I have a feeling I'm dealing with 3390 here. Interesting, to say the least.

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

That is a tough range to detect.

One way I do it is some low cost versions of ZnS:cu green phosphors "Quench" when bright near to mid IR hits them. You need a near UV source or a black light or mercury based lamp to pump the phosphor, and then you see a dimmed spot where the laser hits it. I've used LEDs and germacidal lamps with good results.

I've had good luck with small amounts from this company:

Reagents - Zinc Sulfide

However United Nuclear's "Superphosphor" did not work. Some red phosphors from ebay have shown the effect, but I can not find that vendor on ebay right now.

Works fine with 808, too.

Macken instruments makes laser viewers using a similar, but better,material:

Reliable Laser Measurement-Spectrum Analyzers-Macken Instruments


Be aware that some of the IR to Green conversion cards may need more drive then a weak IR hene may provide. Just because the first method you try fails, does not mean there is not IR present. A IR InGaAS photodiode for 1u starts at around 80$, but you may find something cheaper on ebay or as a sample. IR detectors for this wavelength often have a TE cooler in them, or need a chopper wheel in front of the sensor.

I have the same problem you do, I just found a new near IR nm hene head in a box of surplus I bought. If I find something that works in the next day or two with that laser, I will PM you. I'm waiting to hear from Melles on what the OEM part number means before I power it up.


Steve

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

If it is 3.39u the hene will have ZnSe for the OC. The best way to detect 1.15u is a phosphor card or a NV imaging device. 3.39u is harder to detect, Znse+UV cards or a black painted tiny TEC can detect it in combination with a microamp meter.

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

Steve,

Thank you very much. If you do find something that works, do let me know, as I would certainly be interested.

I do have both UV LEDs and mercury-vapor (clear envelope as well as tube) lamps for UV, so that shouldn't be a problem.

You say ZnS:cu - the link you gave me, says ZnS; would these work alone or would I need to do something else to prepare them for this "charge with UV" and then detect scenario?

Heruur,

Thanks for that advice as well - I've ordered a phosphor card, but I have a feeling the warning label is incorrect and it is in fact 3.39u. Since it's original rating is 2mW, I have a feeling that aligning it to a TEC without the plasma glow emerging from the aperture being 'counted falsely' may be a bit of a needle-in-a-haystack game with an invisible beam, but I will also give that a try.

Thanks, both, for the helpful advice.

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

Aixiz has an IR detector as well, if you haven't ordered the other one already.
AixiZ

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

Jim-

Thanks, good to know a known company carries it, I may order it from there anyhow; thanks for the link.

Here's a question with all of this talk of ZnS and ZnSe. - I've seen LEDs used as photodiodes before. I have some "unusual" ZnSe LEDs from Roithner Lasertechnik. Would these respond in any way to 3.39u?

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

aryntha said:

Just got a PMS/REO IR HeNe head in which the plasma seems just fine, but I've not been able to check on the existence of a beam or not.

As far as I understand, 1.15uM/1150nm is a bit above the limits of what silicon can see.

Is tehre anything I can use to see this high into IR, or any way to check the beam on this thing?

Figured some of the old gas and HeNe experts here may know a way.

Click to expand...

I had similar problem with my 1000+nm diode.

I removed IR filter from webcamera and I was able to see IR light easily.
You should try same thing.

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

The TEC method works best with the head about a foot away from the aperature, that way the borelight is not significant. Your beam will be in the center of the borelight, and you can usually see a very dim blush pink dot where the beam is resulting from light reflected from the cavity HR mirror. The TEC will have a very noticable spike in this area if it's lasing.

Re: Any way to detect 1150nm? (HeNe) - Camera won't work.

Thanks, Heruur, I actually do notice the dim pink dot where the beam would be, so ok; I'll try that and use it as 'targeting'.

ReNNo - As I've found out that this is a 3.39u laser, there's really no chance whatsoever of a camera seeing it. 1.15u, maybe. 3.39u, no way.

(I'll actually change the title of the post if i can, just so it's not misleading.)

Then there is no way to see that wavelength by camera , sorry.