200 mW InGaAs Photodiode Power Sensor with 5 mm Aperture

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Overview

The PD300-IRG InGaAs photodiode sensor is a sensitive laser measurement sensor for telecom applications. It can accept either fiber input or free space with 5 mm aperture. It has a removable filter. Without filter, its spectral range is 900 to 1630 nm and its optical power measuring range is 20 pW to 800 µW. With filter the spectral range is 900 to 1630 nm and the power range is 1 µW to 200 mW.

InGaAs photodiode with 900-1630 nm spectral range
20 pW to 200 mW power measurement range
Comes with removable filter
Ø5 mm aperture
Fiber optic adapters available

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Products

		Compare	Model	Compatibility	sortOrder	rankScore	ranking	Drawings, CAD & Specs		Aperture Size	Spectral Range	Maximum Average Power	Response Time	Availability	Featured Item	Price		Brand
		7Z02495 PD300-IRG Photodiode Power Sensor, InGaAs, 20 pW to 200 mW, Ø5 mm, 900-1630 nm, Round $2,964 7 Weeks	7Z02495 PD300-IRG Photodiode Power Sensor, InGaAs, 20 pW to 200 mW, Ø5 mm, 900-1630 nm, Round	UNIVERSAL	0.0	1.0	0.0		0.0	Ø5 mm	900-1630 nm	200 mW	0.2 s	7 Weeks		$2,964		Ophir

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Specifications

Aperture Size

Ø5 mm
Material

InGaAs
Spectral Range

Filter in: 950-1630 nm
Filter out: 900-1630 nm
Power Range

Filter in: 1 µW - 200 mW
Filter out: 20 pW - 800 µW
Maximum Average Power

Filter in: 50 W/cm²
Filter out: 5 W/cm²
Minimum Pulse Energy

Filter in: 100 µJ
Filter out: 1 µJ

Response Time

0.2 s
Cable Length

1.5 m
Dimensions

Ø30 x 29 mm
CE Compliance

Yes
UKCA Compliance

Yes
China RoHS Compliance

Yes

Features

Measuring Very Low Laser Powers with a Photodiode Sensor

In this short “Basics” video, we review in general the use of photodiode sensors for measuring very low laser powers.

How to Measure Laser Power in Telecom Applications

Optical laser measurements in telecom applications have unique challenges. This video will introduce you to the solutions Ophir offers to help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

The total error when using a PD-300 head is listed as +/- 3%. Is that 3% of the reading or 3% of the total range?
Answer
It's +/-3% of the reading from full scale down to 5% of full scale. Below 5% of full scale one should switch to next range down for the best accurate linear results.

When using the fiber optic adaptor, how do we handle power loss due to the fiber relative to calibration?
Answer
All Ophir power meters, including photodiode power meters, have an air gap between the fiber tip and the sensor. Therefore they measure the power emitted by the fiber into the air and do not take into account any reflection losses there are in the fiber. Therefore, if in actual use, the fiber will be coupled with no loss to another element, then the losses should be added to the reading. These losses are usually about 4%. Thus if the reading on the Ophir meter is say 100 mW, then in lossless use, the real power will be 104 mW.

Can the PD300 be used with the filter in and with fiber adapter at the same time?
Answer
Yes, the adapter is arranged so the user can use it either with filter out or in.

Do I need to recalibrate my instrument? How often must it be recalibrated?
Answer
Unless otherwise indicated, Ophir sensors and meters should be recalibrated within 18 months after initial purchase, and then once a year after that.

Can I use a PD300 sensor inside a thermal chamber, in which the temperature cycles beyond the recommended operating temperature range?
Answer
It should be okay, as long as:
- the wavelength is not near the long wavelength limit where the PD300 has a large temperature dependence;
- there is no condensation on the window of the detector which could interfere with the beam and affect the reading.
We suggest the customer does an experiment with a stable laser source (such as a pointer laser) shining in through a window onto the detector while the unit is temperature cycled to see if the reading changes. The final measurement should be back at the original temperature so as to make sure the laser hasn’t changed.

When measuring a fiber output, should I put the fiber tip right up against the PD300 detector? If not, how close should I come?
Answer
The PD300 sensors are not designed to measure with the fiber pushed up right against the detector surface. It may be reading lower in such a case due to saturation of the detector from the concentrated beam or higher due to back reflections off the detector and back again from the fiber tip. The optimal reading will be where the beam is expanded to a size of 2-5mm diameter. Therefore, you should back off the fiber to a distance where the beam has expanded somewhat. Do not back off too far, otherwise if the nominal beam size is larger than given above, you may lose some of the beam off the edges of the detector.

Why do Photodiode-based power sensors like the PD300 have a specified “Max pulse energy”?
Answer
Although these sensors measure average power (of both CW and repetitively pulsed beams), not pulse energy, it is possible for a pulsed beam to have average power within the sensor’s rated limits and yet have the energy of the pulses themselves be high enough to cause a momentary saturation of the sensor. It is important to be sure that pulse energy is also within sensor spec – not just the average power. This is explained in detail in this White Paper.

Can I use a PD300 photodiode sensor to measure power of a scanned beam?
Answer
For measuring power of a scanned beam we recommend using the BC20, and not the PD300. Since a scanned beam will spend only a fraction of the time of each scan on the detector, the average power measured by the detector will correspondingly be only a fraction of the actual power of the beam. The BC20 is specially designed for such applications by having a peak-hold circuit integrated in its electronics.

Frequently Asked Questions

The total error when using a PD-300 head is listed as +/- 3%. Is that 3% of the reading or 3% of the total range?
Answer
It's +/-3% of the reading from full scale down to 5% of full scale. Below 5% of full scale one should switch to next range down for the best accurate linear results.

When using the fiber optic adaptor, how do we handle power loss due to the fiber relative to calibration?
Answer
All Ophir power meters, including photodiode power meters, have an air gap between the fiber tip and the sensor. Therefore they measure the power emitted by the fiber into the air and do not take into account any reflection losses there are in the fiber. Therefore, if in actual use, the fiber will be coupled with no loss to another element, then the losses should be added to the reading. These losses are usually about 4%. Thus if the reading on the Ophir meter is say 100 mW, then in lossless use, the real power will be 104 mW.

Can the PD300 be used with the filter in and with fiber adapter at the same time?
Answer
Yes, the adapter is arranged so the user can use it either with filter out or in.

Do I need to recalibrate my instrument? How often must it be recalibrated?
Answer
Unless otherwise indicated, Ophir sensors and meters should be recalibrated within 18 months after initial purchase, and then once a year after that.

Can I use a PD300 sensor inside a thermal chamber, in which the temperature cycles beyond the recommended operating temperature range?
Answer
It should be okay, as long as:
- the wavelength is not near the long wavelength limit where the PD300 has a large temperature dependence;
- there is no condensation on the window of the detector which could interfere with the beam and affect the reading.
We suggest the customer does an experiment with a stable laser source (such as a pointer laser) shining in through a window onto the detector while the unit is temperature cycled to see if the reading changes. The final measurement should be back at the original temperature so as to make sure the laser hasn’t changed.

When measuring a fiber output, should I put the fiber tip right up against the PD300 detector? If not, how close should I come?
Answer
The PD300 sensors are not designed to measure with the fiber pushed up right against the detector surface. It may be reading lower in such a case due to saturation of the detector from the concentrated beam or higher due to back reflections off the detector and back again from the fiber tip. The optimal reading will be where the beam is expanded to a size of 2-5mm diameter. Therefore, you should back off the fiber to a distance where the beam has expanded somewhat. Do not back off too far, otherwise if the nominal beam size is larger than given above, you may lose some of the beam off the edges of the detector.

Why do Photodiode-based power sensors like the PD300 have a specified “Max pulse energy”?
Answer
Although these sensors measure average power (of both CW and repetitively pulsed beams), not pulse energy, it is possible for a pulsed beam to have average power within the sensor’s rated limits and yet have the energy of the pulses themselves be high enough to cause a momentary saturation of the sensor. It is important to be sure that pulse energy is also within sensor spec – not just the average power. This is explained in detail in this White Paper.

Can I use a PD300 photodiode sensor to measure power of a scanned beam?
Answer
For measuring power of a scanned beam we recommend using the BC20, and not the PD300. Since a scanned beam will spend only a fraction of the time of each scan on the detector, the average power measured by the detector will correspondingly be only a fraction of the actual power of the beam. The BC20 is specially designed for such applications by having a peak-hold circuit integrated in its electronics.

Accessories

Customers that purchase the above items also consider the following items. Ophir-Spiricon meters and sensors include a standard manufacturers warranty for one year. Add a one year Extended Warranty to your meter or sensor, which includes one recalibration.

Description	Compatibility	Avail.	Price
7Z08216 FC Fiber Adapter, PD300-IRG Power Sensors	UNIVERSAL	In Stock	$257
7Z08222 SMA Fiber Adapter, PD300-IRG Power Sensors	UNIVERSAL	In Stock	$300
XWAR-SENSOR Extended Warranty for Sensor	UNIVERSAL	Contact Us	$475