Setting Up a Pigtailed Butterfly Laser Diode (Viewer Inspired) | Thorlabs Insights

A laser diode packaged in a butterfly housing can be precisely controlled, in a compact package, when the laser is installed in a mount that includes thermoelectric cooler (TEC) and current drivers. The mount can make it easier, and safer, to operate the laser, but the procedure for installing the laser in the mount and configuring the settings requires some care. This video provides a step-by-step guide, which begins with an introduction to the different components and concludes with the laser operating under TEC control and with the recommended maximum current limit enabled.

This demonstration is also filled with useful details that can be forgotten in bulleted lists describing the setup procedure. These include tips for wearing an ESD strap, determining when to use thermal grease, applying the right amount of thermal grease, creating good electrical connections between the laser's pins and mount, easing the removal of the laser from the mount, safeguarding the fiber pigtail of the installed laser, cleaning an angled physical contact (APC) fiber connector, using the Steinhart-Hart thermistor values provided on the laser spec sheet, and making power measurements to determine the laser's current limit setting.

00:00 - Introduction
00:37 - Use an ESD Strap to Protect the Laser
01:58 - Butterfly Package and Pins
02:53 - When and How to Apply Thermal Grease
04:32 - Install the Butterfly Laser Package in the Mount
09:51 - Thermistor Spec Sheet Values and TEC Configuration
13:03 - Determine and Set the Maximum Drive Current

Components used in this demonstration include:
- CLD1015 Laser Mount with TEC for Butterfly Packages: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- SFL1550P 1550 nm, 40 mW Laser, Butterfly Package: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- WS02 ESD Strap: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- P3-1550PM-FC-1 PM Fiber Patch Cable: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- S122C: Power Sensor: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- PM400 Power Meter: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...
- FCC-7020 Fiber Connector Cleaner: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...

For more photonics how-to videos, visit https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage...