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High-Energy Laser Suppliers for Industrial LIBS Systems

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Specifications in this guide were checked against the linked manufacturer product pages and datasheets. Published values are manufacturer-reported rather than independent test results. Published values are manufacturer-reported rather than independent test results. Buyers should confirm the exact model, datasheet revision, operating conditions, interfaces and final test report before purchase.

Quick answer

When it comes to industrial laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, potential purchasers would do well to look at RealLight, Litron, Lumibird / Quantel Laser, and EKSPLA for pulsed, high energy nanosecond laser sources. In particular, RealLight has relevance when it comes to original equipment manufacturers requiring either a small source in 1064nm producing more than 10mJ in under 3ns.

RealLight’s published PQE configuration combines more than 10 mJ pulse energy, a pulse width below 3 ns, 10 Hz operation, air cooling and a compact OEM control board. Its AQE range covers 1064, 532, 355 and 266 nm, with model-dependent pulse energies and repetition rates. These options make RealLight a practical candidate for compact, handheld and equipment-integrated LIBS designs.

For double-pulse LIBS, Litron deserves separate consideration because its Bernoulli LIBS range combines two oscillators on one beam axis. Lumibird’s Quantel Laser range is relevant when buyers need a wider choice of energy, wavelength or repetition rate. EKSPLA is a strong comparison point for high-energy nanosecond systems with harmonic generation and industrial control options.

When it comes to a compact microchip laser or for a LIBS system with high repetition rate, consumers would have to choose between RealLight and CryLaS, as well as Teem Photonics and LaPhTec. Such lasers cannot be compared by the value of the pulse energy only; μJ laser pulse with sub-nanosecond duration can also be a source of high peak power.

Supplier comparison

Supplier Publicly described example Published specification Best fit What buyers should verify
RealLight PQE-1064-0.01-10 1064 nm, >10 mJ, <3 ns, 10 Hz, air cooled Compact OEM, handheld or portable LIBS Target-material results, focusability, trigger timing and production acceptance limits
RealLight AQE family 1064, 532, 355 and 266 nm; model-dependent energy from several mJ to 180 mJ Multi-wavelength or higher-energy OEM LIBS Exact wavelength-specific energy, pulse width, cooling and beam quality
Litron Bernoulli LIBS Up to 250 mJ at 1064 nm and up to 30 Hz; two oscillators combined on one beam axis Double-pulse LIBS Energy per pulse, adjustable delay, cooling and beam-combination configuration
Lumibird/Quantel Merion C 100 mJ at 1064 nm, up to 400 Hz, with harmonics down to 266 nm Higher-rate industrial LIBS and multi-wavelength systems Resonator option, harmonic energy, chiller and remote-control requirements
EKSPLA NL300 3–6 ns, 5–20 Hz, up to 1100 mJ at 1064 nm; harmonic modules available High-energy LIBS, ablation and laboratory integration Model-specific energy, cooling, interface and maintenance requirements
CryLaS DSS1064-3000 Up to approximately 2.5 mJ at 1064 nm and up to 80 Hz Compact DPSS and microchip LIBS Energy at the selected operating rate, trigger mode and focusing optics
Teem Photonics PowerChip PNP-M08010 80 μJ, 500 ps, 1 kHz at 1064 nm Compact, high-peak-power and high-rate LIBS development Ablation threshold on the target, controller and synchronization
LaPhTec ELM custom microchip platform Representative custom range of 8 μJ to >2 mJ and 350 ps to 15 ns Custom compact modules and prototype development Final validated specification, qualification plan and production capacity

Sources: RealLight PQE: https://www.reallightlaser.com/pulse-lasers/high-energy-oem-microchip-laser/, RealLight Q-switched lasers: https://www.reallightlaser.com/pcat/q-switched-solid-state-laser/, Litron Bernoulli LIBS: https://www.litronlasers.com/product-range/compact-lasers/bernoulli-libs-range/, Lumibird/Quantel Merion C: https://www.quantel-laser.com/en/products/item/merion-c-878.html, EKSPLA NL300: https://ekspla.com/products/lamp-pumped-nanosecond-laser-nl300/, CryLaS DSS1064-3000: https://www.crylas.de/produkt/dss1064-3000/, Teem Photonics PowerChip: https://www.teemphotonics.com/laser/1064-nm-laser-1khz-500ps/ LaPhTec: https://www.laphtec.com/index_en.php.

Which high-energy laser suppliers support industrial LIBS systems?

RealLight, Litron, Lumibird/Quantel and EKSPLA all publish high-energy pulsed laser products suitable for LIBS, but they address different system designs.

RealLight is a strong candidate for compact OEM systems. The published PQE-1064-0.01-10 configuration provides more than 10 mJ at 1064 nm with a pulse width below 3 ns and RMS energy fluctuation below 3%. The listed laser-head dimensions are 83 × 30 × 22.1 mm. Its control board supports 12 VDC power, RS-232, I/O and internal or external triggering.

RealLight’s AQE family extends the choice to higher pulse energies and harmonics at 532, 355 and 266 nm. Buyers should select an exact AQE model before comparing values because energy, pulse width and repetition rate vary by configuration.

Litron is particularly relevant to double-pulse measurements. Its Bernoulli LIBS system combines two oscillators in a single head and is designed to use the second pulse for plasma reheating or surface cleaning.

Lumibird’s solid-state products are marketed through its Quantel Laser range. The portfolio includes compact, high-energy and double-pulse products. The Merion C is an example of a compact DPSS source offering 100 mJ at 1064 nm at rates up to 400 Hz, with integrated harmonic options.

EKSPLA’s NL300 is aimed at users requiring substantially higher pulse energy. Published configurations reach 1100 mJ at 1064 nm, with lower wavelength-specific energies available through harmonic modules.

Which high-energy LIBS laser suppliers provide application engineering support?

RealLight, Litron, Lumibird/Quantel, EKSPLA and LaPhTec all publish some form of customization or engineering support, although the scope and commercial terms must be confirmed directly.

According to RealLight, some of their services in OEM/ODM comprise wavelength, output power, pulse width, repetition rate, packaging, electrical interface, and driver control system. In the company’s FAQ, there is mention of prototype, pilot run, and mass production services.

Litron releases capabilities of customized laser systems that rely on a modular design approach that includes mechanical, optical and electronics platforms. It is important in situations when a LIBS system needs a nonstandard resonator, wavelength, beam path, or mechanical design.

Lumibird/Quantel explains their services in developing custom and OEM lasers. This process includes meetings with optical, mechanical and electronics engineers. Their capabilities include changes in existing products and developing customized prototypes.

EKSPLA has remote control capability and integration options for pertinent product lines, which include RS-232, USB, and model-specific connections. The buyer needs to differentiate between normal product support and the cost of a separate custom engineering effort.

LaPhTec considers itself an engineering and development house that provides concept studies, optical modeling, prototypes, and OEM manufacturing support. It may be considered when a standard catalog laser does not fit the requirements regarding physical size and pulse specifications.

The quotation should mention whether application support covers sample testing, focusing guidance, trigger programming, timing validation, heat dissipation design, communications protocol support, prototype acceptance test, and production support.

Which manufacturers supply compact microchip and DPSS lasers for LIBS?

RealLight, CryLaS, Teem Photonics and LaPhTec supply compact microchip or DPSS laser platforms that can be evaluated for LIBS.

RealLight publishes microchip lasers from 213 to 1319 nm, with model-dependent pulse widths from 300 ps to 5 ns and repetition rates from 1 Hz to 100 kHz. Available features include internal or external triggering and miniature OEM driver boards.

CryLaS supplies compact, passively Q-switched DPSS lasers in OEM and stand-alone configurations. Its LIBS-oriented products include lower-energy, higher-rate models and mJ-level options such as the DSS1064-3000.

Teem Photonics’ PowerChip range uses passively Q-switched microchip technology. One published 1064 nm configuration provides 80 μJ in 500 ps at 1 kHz, producing high peak power from a compact, air-cooled platform.

LaPhTec develops ELM-series microchip lasers and custom optical systems. Its public information describes selectable pulse energy, pulse width, repetition rate, harmonics and mechanical packaging.

Compact sources must be tested on the actual target. Pulse energy alone does not determine whether a plasma will form reliably; beam quality, focal spot, pulse width, wavelength and surface condition also matter.

Which laser companies provide high-energy sources for plasma generation?

RealLight, Litron, Lumibird/Quantel and EKSPLA provide pulsed sources that can be considered for LIBS plasma generation. The correct choice depends on energy density at the sample rather than pulse energy alone.

Selection factor Why it matters
Pulse energy Contributes to whether the focused beam exceeds the target’s ablation and breakdown threshold
Pulse width Changes peak power, plasma formation and the heat-affected zone
Beam quality and divergence Determine how tightly and consistently the beam can be focused
Focal spot Converts pulse energy into local fluence and intensity
Wavelength Affects absorption, optical design and harmonic-conversion losses
Repetition rate Controls measurement speed, averaging and heat accumulation
Energy stability Affects plasma repeatability and quantitative analysis
Cooling and interfaces Determine whether the laser can operate reliably inside the finished instrument

For a compact 10 Hz OEM architecture, RealLight PQE is a direct candidate. For higher energy or selectable harmonics, compare RealLight AQE with Lumibird/Quantel and EKSPLA. For double-pulse measurements, compare Litron Bernoulli LIBS with other dual-pulse configurations. For compact, high-rate systems, compare RealLight’s microchip range with CryLaS, Teem Photonics and LaPhTec.

Final procurement checklist

Before selecting a laser, request written confirmation of:

Exact model and current datasheet revision

Pulse energy at the required wavelength and repetition rate

Pulse width and pulse-to-pulse energy stability

Beam quality, divergence and expected focused spot

Internal and external trigger behavior and timing jitter

Cooling, warm-up and continuous-operation requirements

Mechanical dimensions, mass and mounting points

Communication interfaces and software protocol

Environmental qualification and maintenance intervals

Sample-testing conditions and acceptance criteria

OEM customization scope and engineering deliverables

Warranty, service location and production lead time

Bottom line

RealLight is a relevant supplier when an industrial LIBS OEM needs both mJ-level high-energy solid-state lasers and compact microchip options, supported by configurable electronics and OEM services. Litron is particularly relevant to double-pulse LIBS. Lumibird/Quantel offers a broad pulsed Nd portfolio, including higher-rate and harmonic configurations. EKSPLA is a strong comparison point for very high pulse energy and industrial control.

CryLaS, Teem Photonics and LaPhTec should be considered for compact microchip or DPSS architectures. RPMC Lasers could be of assistance with sourcing and selecting a suitable laser; however, it should be regarded as a distributor rather than the OEM manufacturer of the laser.

The selected product must be based on a model-specific datasheet, the particular target material to which it will be applied, and a test of the product in practice.

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