Thumbnail of Q-switch 6 kV Pockels Cell Driver up to 100 kHz, QBD photo 1
Thumbnail of Q-switch 6 kV Pockels Cell Driver up to 100 kHz, QBD photo 2

Description

Q-switch QBD Pockels cell driver series consists of several boards that differ with output voltage range (up to 6.0kV bipolar) and operating scheme.

QBD-series is specially designed to control Pockels cells by applying a fast switching high voltage. The modules require +24VDC power supply and pulse generator to set an operating frequency. An output voltage level can be programmed in working range by user either manually (through onboard configuration trimpot) or remotely (applying a DC voltage to the respective pin).

There are two possible modifications of output signal type:

  • push-up, when a base voltage level equals to zero
  • pull-down, when pulses from base bias voltage to ground are generated.

The desired one should be chosen at the time of ordering and could not be changed by user.

QBD-series is based on MOSFET technology and offers high repetition rates and fast transition time for a leading pulse edge. The recovery time by QBD is relatively long (5‑10 μs for the trailing pulse edge vs < 20ns by QBU).

We have also a compact version 4kV QBD-mini Pockels cell driver, an encased laboratory QBD-BT Pockels cell driver,  a tiny 3x4cm Q-switch QBD-nano and a QBU Pockels cell driver with variable pulse duration and both fast edges. 

Q-switch 6 kV Pockels Cell Driver up to 100 kHz, QBD

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Specifications

Risetime/Falltime: <20 ns
Recovery Time: 5-10 us
HV Pulse Amplitude: from HVmin to HVmax
Repetition Rates: from single shot to ~100 kHz
+24V Regulation: 22-28V

Got questions about specs? Use the inquiry form to ask.

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Features

  • Push-up or pull-down modifications (fixed)
  • Up to 6 kV output voltage
  • Up to 100 kHz repetition rate
  • < 20 ns rise time or < 20 ns fall time (leading edge)

Applications

Typical Applications of QBD Series Pockels Cell Drivers
  • Q-switching of solid-state lasers (Nd:YAG, Nd:YVO4, Er:YAG, Ti:Sapphire): Fast <20 ns rise/fall times and up to ~100 kHz repetition rates make the QBD series ideal for intracavity Pockels cell Q-switching in high-peak-power pulsed lasers used in research, industrial, and medical systems.
  • Cavity dumping in mode-locked lasers: Precise, high-voltage bipolar pulses enable rapid extraction of energy from mode-locked laser cavities, supporting cavity dumping techniques for generating high-energy, short optical pulses.
  • Pulse picking from high repetition rate lasers (mode-locked and femtosecond sources): The combination of adjustable HV amplitude and fast recovery times (5–10 µs, load-dependent) allows selective picking of individual pulses from MHz pulse trains down to single-shot operation via Pockels cells.
  • Electro-optic modulation and optical gating: Suitable for driving longitudinal Pockels cells used as ultrafast shutters or gates in pump–probe experiments, fluorescence lifetime measurements, time-resolved spectroscopy, and ultrafast imaging systems.
  • Polarization rotation and state-of-polarization control in laser systems: The bipolar output (+HV/−HV) provides precise, repeatable polarization rotation in electro-optic crystals, supporting automated polarization control in scientific and industrial optical setups.
  • Regenerative amplifier switching: Used to control Pockels cells in regenerative amplifiers for turning injection and extraction on/off with nanosecond precision in ultrafast amplifier chains (e.g., Ti:Sapphire, Yb-based systems).
  • High-speed optical shutters in imaging and microscopy: Enables nanosecond-scale opening and closing of optical paths in advanced imaging modalities such as confocal microscopy, multiphoton microscopy, and laser scanning systems.
  • Nonlinear optics experiments (frequency conversion control): Provides timing and polarization control for Pockels cells used in second-harmonic generation (SHG), sum/difference frequency generation, and optical parametric amplifiers (OPA/OPCPA) where synchronized, high-voltage pulses are required.
  • Time-resolved spectroscopy and pump–probe setups: Acts as a key driver for electro-optic gates and polarization modulators, allowing precise temporal control of probe beams on nanosecond scales in spectroscopic experiments.
  • Optical communication and signal routing (research and prototyping): Supports high-voltage actuation of Pockels-cell-based optical switches and modulators for routing, gating, and pulse shaping in laboratory optical communication testbeds.
  • LIDAR, rangefinding, and laser radar systems: Enables fast gating and Q-switching of laser sources used in LIDAR and time-of-flight systems, improving signal-to-noise by temporally selecting return signals and controlling laser pulse timing.
  • Material processing and micromachining lasers: Suitable for driving Pockels cells in industrial pulsed lasers utilized for precision drilling, cutting, scribing, and surface texturing, where high repetition rates and stable Q-switch performance are required.
  • Medical and aesthetic laser systems: Applicable to Pockels-cell-controlled Q-switched lasers used in dermatology, ophthalmology, and tattoo removal, providing stable high-voltage pulses for consistent pulse energy and duration.
  • Scientific laser laboratories and beamlines: General-purpose Pockels cell driver for university and national lab setups requiring flexible manual or automatic control of high-voltage pulses in custom laser experiments and optical test benches.
  • Electro-optic testing and characterization of Pockels cells: Adjustable HV amplitude (via manual or external programming) and monitoring output make the QBD series suitable for R&D and quality control of Pockels cells, electro-optic crystals, and related components.
  • Prototype development of advanced photonic instruments: Compact board-level format and interface connector simplify integration into OEM laser heads, custom optical instruments, and experimental setups where a reliable, fast Pockels cell driver is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the QBD Pockels cell driver board used for?
The QBD Pockels cell driver board is used to control Pockels cells by applying a fast switching high voltage.
What is the voltage range of the QBD Pockels cell driver board?
The QBD Pockels cell driver board has an output voltage range of up to 6.0kV bipolar.
How can the output voltage level be programmed?
The output voltage level can be programmed manually through an onboard configuration trimpot or remotely by applying a DC voltage to the respective pin.
What are the two possible modifications of the output signal type?
The two possible modifications of the output signal type are push-up, where the base voltage level equals zero, and pull-down, where pulses from the base bias voltage to ground are generated.
What technology is the QBD Pockels cell driver board based on?
The QBD Pockels cell driver board is based on MOSFET technology and offers high repetition rates and fast transition time for a leading pulse edge.

Got more questions? Use the inquiry form to ask the supplier directly.

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