Photodigm –
Ddesign, Test & Manufacture DBR LASER DIODES 730-1090 nm
Photodigm, Inc. is the global leader of single spatial and longitudinal mode Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) laser diodes. Headquartered in Richardson, Texas, and 100% U.S.-based leading the world’s photonics revolution and have made significant contributions to the realms of quantum sensing, atomic clock manufacturing, optical metrology, and laser spectroscopy. Fixed wavelength diode lasers, renowned for their accuracy and reliability, are meticulously manufactured at our on-site fabrication facility.
Originally established in 2000 as a spinoff from Southern Methodist University’s photonics lab, we quickly become a global authority in the design, testing, and manufacturing of single-frequency DBR laser diodes. Patented technology plays a pivotal role in quantum, biomedical, sensing, environmental, and defense applications. With Photodigm, you’re not just investing in a product—you’re investing in the power of American ingenuity and technological excellence.
Photodigm is the only commercial manufacturer of Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) laser diodes in the world and our technology IP is protected with 30+ patents and 20+ years of expertly tuning our manufacturing processes. All lasers are designed, tested, and manufactured at Photodigm Headquarters in Richardson, Texas in our on-site fabrication facility.
DBR Laser Diodes – View Full Catalog
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WHY CHOOSE PHDTODIGM DBRs?
PRECISION. POWER. PROVEN RELIABILITY
Photodigm’s DBR lasers offer single-frequency performance with narrow linewidth,
high power, and spectral stability-needed for the most demanding applications in quantum, biomedical, spectroscopy, metrology, defense and aerospace.
CORE TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
Monolithic, Single-Epi Design
– Passive DBR mirror separated from the gain region-no regrowth
– Fewer defects, higher reliability, and superior thermal stability
Narrow Linewidth, High Stability
– Inherently narrow linewidth for ultra-stable spectral output
– Ideal for wavelength-locked and noise-sensitive applications
Predictable Mode Behavior
– Deterministic tuning with curent and temperature
– No spectral gaps, unlike DFBs that are prone to “catastrophic” mode hops over time
Innovative Enhancements
– Mode-Hop-Free (MHF) standard on all Photodigm DBRs
– Virtual Point Source (VPS) Lens
| FEATURE | PHOTODIGM DBR | DFB |
| Grating Architecture | Passive, surface-etched | Buried in active region |
| Fabrication | Single-step epi growth | Epi regrowth (defect-prone) |
| Tuning Behavior | Predictable with reversible spectral mode hops | Broad but potentially discontinuous mode hops |
| Long-Term Stability | Maintains lockable performance | Prone to irreversible red-shift spectral mode hops |
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES
MODE HOP FREE- NOW STANDARD!
Photodigm’s Mode Hop Free DBR laser is the result of extensive research and development to meet the needs of customers requiring high stability and extended tuning capabilities. The Mode Hop Free DBR laser can be tuned without mode hops over a wide range of operating conditions while maintaining a narrow spectral linewidth, making them ideal for scientific instruments where precision and flexibility is critical.
VPS LENS VPS LENS BEAM PROFILE
Photodigm’s proprietary Virtual Point Source (VPS) microlens is designed to improve the output beam from Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) laser diodes. It reduces astigmatism and makes the beam more circular by controlling the fast-axis divergence.
Key Features:
– High Efficiency: Captures more than 98% of the fast-axis divergence.
– Improved Light Collimation: Ensures ideal light direction and coupling to other optics.
– Better Circularity: Achieves a circularity ratio of 1.0-1.2 between the slow and fast axes.
– Near Diffraction-Limited Focus: The beam can be focused very precisely, useful for applications like fiber coupling with a single aspheric lens.
To correct astigmatism, Photodigm uses a cylindrical lens to reduce the beam divergence in the fast axis. The VPS lens is designed to match the divergence of the fast and slow axis, leading to a near circularized beam that still expands slightly (6°-8° full-width half maximum in both axes) but allows users to adjust the beam diameter to their needs.
Photodigm PRODUCTS
Fiber pigtailed packages (Butterfly, Butterfly-ISO, ISO-Bragg) output power depends on configuration and wavelength.
Hermetic sealing is standard on 9MM, TOSA, and Butterfly packages. The TO-8 package can be hermetically sealed.
| Wavlentgh [nm] | CW Power Range (mW) |
| 730 | 40-80 |
| 737 | 40-80 |
| 739 | 40-80 |
| 760 | 40-80 |
| 766.700 (K) | 40-80 |
| 770.108 (K) | 40-100 |
| 776.061 (Rb) | 40-120 |
| 778.105 (Rb) | 80-180 |
| 780.241 (Rb) | 40-80 |
| 780.241 (Rb) | 80-180 |
| 785 | 40-80 |
| 785 | 80-180 |
| 794.978 (Rb) | 40-80 |
| 794.978 (Rb) | 80-180 |
| 800 | 80-80 |
| 808 | 80-180 |
| 810 | 80-180 |
| 816 | 80-180 |
| 823 | 80-180 |
| 828 | 80-180 |
| 830 | 80-180 |
| 845.884 (Ca) | 80-240 |
| 845.884 (Ca) | 10-30 |
| 852.347 (Cs) | 40-80 |
| 852.347 (Cs) | 80-240 |
| 854.209 (Ca+) | 80-240 |
| 866.214 (Ca+) | 80-240 |
| 894.592 (Cs) | 40-120 |
| 894.592 (Cs) | 80-240 |
| 920 | 80-240 |
| 935 | 80-240 |
| 976 | 40-200 |
| 976 | 80-350 |
| 1036 | 40-180 |
| 1039 | 40-180 |
| 1064 | 40-180 |
| 1064 | 100-350 |
| 1080 | 40-180 |
| 1083.33 (He) | 40-120 |
| 1083.33 (He) | 100-350 |
| 1090 | 40-180 |
PACKAGING OPTIONS
TOSA
– 5.2mm (Height) X 5.8mm (Width) X 10.0mm (Length)
– Included: Thermistor (TEC), Hermetically Sealed
– Add-on: VPS Lens
TO8
– 18.9mm (Height) X 15.3mm (Width) X 15.3mm (Length)
Included: Thermistor (TEC), Photodiode
– Add-ons: VPS Lens, Hermetic Sealing
9MM
– 11.2mm (Height) X 9.0mm (Width) X 9.0mm (Length)
– Included: Photodiode, Hermetically Sealed
C-MOUNT
– 7.7mm (Height) X 2.2mm (Width) X 12.6mm (Length)
– Add-on: VPS Lens
BUTTERFLY
– 7.8mm (Height) X 12.7mm (Width) X 30.0mm (Length)
– Included: Thermistor (TEC), Photodiode, Hermetically Sealed
– Add-on: Internal Isolator
ISO-BRAGG 1O64NM
– 20.0mm (Height) X 27.0mm (Width) X 84.4mm (Length)
– Included: Thermistor (TEC), Internal Isolator
– Add-on: Additional Isolator
77O-795NM
– 29.0mm (Height) X 40.0mm (Width) X 58.0mm (Length)
– Included: Thermistor (TEC), Internal Isolator
– Add-on: Additional Isolator
84O-866NM
– 29.0mm (Height) X 40.0mm (Width) X 84.4mm (Length)
– Included: Thermistor (TEC), Internal Isolator
– Add-on: Additional Isolator
MARKETS
BIOMEDICAL
Small but mighty, our photonic chips are powered by light and are reinventing the biomedical industry. Though virtually invisible, they’re transforming wearable devices with their precise imaging capabilities. Whether it’s low-noise scans with Optical Coherence Tomography or innovative advancements in blood chemistry, these tiny lasers are sparking a major revolution in medical science.
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SPECTROSCOPY
DBR lasers are the superheroes of spectroscopy. With pinpoint accuracy, they deliver the exact energy needed to probe complex systems, without the fuss of external optics. They’re like archaeologists of light, extracting critical information without disturbing the system. From Raman spectroscopy to materials characterization, these lasers are not just versatile – they’re transforming how we understand, interact with, and manipulate the microscopic world around us.
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QUANTUM
In the complex realm of quantum tech, precision and reliability are king. Enter our DBR lasers – ultra-reliable, cost-effective, and tiny enough to integrate seamlessly into this frontier of technology. From laser cooling to atom-trapping, atomic clocks to photon entanglement experiments, Photodigm’s DBR Lasers are the unrivaled champions in the arena of quantum science.
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METROLOGY
In metrology, consistency is everything. That’s where our DBR lasers come in. Their passive wavelength selective mirror offers a consistent reference point that doesn’t degrade over time. Like a reliable compass, they provide unwavering accuracy and end-reliability, making them a go-to source for calibration and metrology systems.
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OTHER MARKETS
As the backbone of photonics, our DBR lasers are known for their unmatched versatility. In remote sensing and LiDAR, they’re the go-to choice for detecting essential atmospheric components, contributing key data for climate change and national security issues. In the world of scientific research, our lasers don’t just participate — they lead.
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