New Wave Research Introduces Solo PIV 120, a Compact, High-Power Nd:YAG Laser for PIV Applications
Latest Addition to the Solo PIV Series Provides Unprecedented Combination of High Power and Small Packaging
Fremont, Calif., October 1, 2001 - New Wave Research introduces the Solo PIV 120, a compact, high power Nd:YAG laser for particle image velocimetry (PIV) applications. The compact, Q-switched, laser system produces 120 mJ pulses at 532 nm and a repetition rate of 15 Hz and features a dual-head laser driven by a single power supply. The stable high-energy pulses produced by the Solo 120 make it ideal for large-area water flow and many air flow analysis applications using PIV.
"The compact design of the Solo PIV 120 makes it easy to set up, easy to use and easy to move from one experiment to another," said Ed North, president of New Wave Research. "There is nothing on the market today that provides this much power in such a small package."
The sleek laser head measures just 16 x 8 x 4 inches and contains two independently fired laser heads mounted on a single baseplate. The single power supply measures only 19 x 9 x 15 inches and features an internal, closed-loop cooling system operating from single-phase 100 – 240 VAC.
The Solo PIV 120 is the latest in a series of Nd:YAG lasers developed by New Wave Research specifically for PIV experiments. Other Solo PIV lasers feature different energy levels, from 15 mJ to 50 mJ at 532 nm, and repetition rates, from 1 to 15 Hz or 1 to 30 Hz depending on the model selected. Each model has a pulse width of 3 ns-5 ns (FWHM) and energy stability of ± 4 percent at 532 nm. Beam diameters vary from 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm, depending on the model.
The Solo PIV series also provides operating convenience through multiple triggering capabilities. The laser may be fired by the internal timing electronics at a variable repetition rate from 1 Hz up to the maximum of either 15 Hz or 30 Hz depending on the model. The laser head also can be fired from an external trigger through rear-panel BNC connectors. Q-switch activation can be controlled internally or by an external trigger source, allowing precise timing control of the energy pulse.
Established in 1990, New Wave Research manufactures a range of small, pulsed Nd: YAG laser systems for semiconductor failure analysis, LCD repair, laser ablation for ICP mass spectroscopy, particle image velocimetry, OEM and other scientific and industrial applications. For more information, contact Ed North, New Wave Research, 47613 Warm Springs Blvd., Fremont, Calif., 94539; 510/249-1550, 510/249-1551 (fax); e-mail: lasers@new-wave.com; Web: www.new-wave.com