Laser Diode Driver Guide

Newport and ILX Lightwave Offer the Widest Range of High Quality Precision Laser Diode Drivers Available

Laser Diode Drivers are used to precisely control a laser diodes optical output, while protecting the laser diode from overcurrent conditions. Newport and ILX Lightwave offer a wide range of laser diode drivers with output up to 6000 mA as well as High Power Laser Diode Drivers capable of driving laser diode up to 125A CW / 220A QCW. Multiple levels of laser diode protection are included in the design to protect against overcurrent conditions; features include adjustable current limits, redundant hardware current limits, voltage limit (some models), slow start circuitry, output shorting relays and transient protection. To complement our laser diode drivers, we offer a wide variety of Laser Diode Mounts and fixtures compatible with our laser diode drivers and temperature controllers, as well as TO-Can Laser Diodes.

Laser Diode Drivers

Model Max. Current / Compliance Voltage Best Output Noise Modulation Remote Interface Laser Diode Protection
3210 S-O LDX-3200 Series 4000 mA / 15 V < 2 µA rms up to 250 kHz GPIB
  • Most advanced laser diode protection
  • High speed intermittent contact protection
  • Overvoltage protection
  • Independent hardware and firmware current limits
  • Slow start turn-on
  • Shorting relays
  • Transient protection
  • Isolated transformers
3525b S-O LDX-3500B Series 6000 mA / 7 V < 2 µA rms up to 500 kHz USB
  • Independent hardware and firmware current limits
  • Intermittent contact protection
  • Slow start turn-on
  • Shorting relays
  • Transient protection
  • Isolated transformers
3412 0411 LDX-3412 200 mA / 6 V < 2 µA rms Not available Not available
  • Independent hardware and firmware current limits
  • Intermittent contact protection
  • Slow start turn-on
  • Shorting relays
  • Transient protection
  • Isolated transformers
3620B Front LDX-3620B 500 mA / 5 V < 70 nA rms up to 1000 kHz Not available
  • Independent hardware and firmware current limits
  • Slow start turn-on
  • Shorting relays
  • Transient protection

High-Power Laser Diode Drivers

Model Maximum Current / Compliance Voltage Modulation Remote Interface Laser Diode Protection
36000-Front-Panel-for-Websi LDX-36000 Series 125 A (CW) / 35 V
220 A (QCW) / 35 V		 QCW operation up to 1000 Hz GPIB
  • Most advanced laser diode protection
  • High speed intermittent contact protection
  • Overvoltage protection
  • Independent hardware and firmware current limits
  • Slow start turn-on
  • Shorting relays
  • Transient protection
  • Isolated transformers

Pulsed Laser Diode Drivers

Model Maximum Current / Compliance Voltage Maximum Duty Cycle Pulse Width Range Remote Interface
3830 Color LDP-3830 5000 mA / 20 V 5% 25 ns to 1µs USB and GPIB
3840B 0411 LDP-3840B 3000 mA / 10 V 10% 100 ns to 10 ms GPIB
3811 0411 LDP-3811 Series 500 mA / 25 V 100% 0.1 µs to 1000 µs GPIB