FAQs
We’re always looking forward to receiving your questions via e-mail or by using our contact form to find the ideal laser diode for your reuqirements. Nevertheless, you can find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) with regards to our products and product families, applications, order & delivery, company, career and contact & shows in this section.
Portfolio
We offer wavelengths from 630 nm – 1120 nm based on GaAs (Gallium Arsenide).
Our unique products are clustered into five different product families sorted by chip design that differentiate themselves by power and beam quality among other features and are used in various applications. We offer Single Frequency laser such as DFBs and miniECLs, we offer tapered amplifiers such as the miniTA, we offer BAL-laser in our multimode product family and we have single mode laser and gain chips in our portfolio. Depending on your application needs, we’ll find the ideal laser diode for you. don’t hesitate to contact us.
We offer many different packages like butterfly packages, TO-packages, C-mounts and flatpacks. Let us know your needs and we’ll find the ideal laser diode for your requirements. You can also filter your preferred package type in our product finder.
Our portfolio includes a range of DFB lasers with different wavelengths for a variety of applications. We offer these lasers in various package designs – from the compact TO-5 package to the fiber-coupled 14-pin butterfly package with integrated optical isolator. Different variants are available for spectroscopic applications: In addition to the basic variant EYP-DFB-…-0000, we also offer mode-hop free tunable variants EYP-DFB-…-0002 and variants with very precisely specified wavelengths EYP-DFB-…-0005 for selected wavelengths. The latter are aiming at atomic absorption lines such as the D1 line of Cs or the D2 line of Rb.
EAGLEYARD provides three product quality levels compliant with specific customer requirements:
1. Industry Level: Built on our extensive experience in high-reliability industrial applications. Addresses the needs of scalability and reliability of a typ. indiustrial environment (e.g. production volume of 100’s or up to 10’s k / yr.; multiple yrs. of lifetime)
2. Space Qualifiable: Laser diode manufacturing is based on EAGLEYARD’s heritage and experience with multiple space programs. Includes a specialized bill of materials (BOM), customized processes in accordance with ESCC/MIL and other relevant standards; (where applicable), dedicated documentation, and additional quality gates. MOQ of 10 units required. Does not include the qualification itself.
3. Space Qualified: Typically the result of a project with mission-specific requirements applicable for a specific P/N, leveraging our space heritage, followed by lot acceptance tests/qualification program conducted by EAGLEYARD’s Quality Management. Includes typically elevated lifetime testing (multiple 1000’s of test hours).
With the strong focus on QT applications that everybody in this industry is experiencing, blue, violet and green wavelengths become more relevant than ever. For quantum computing wavelength of 369 nm and 399 nm (Yb+), 422 nm (Ca+) and 461 nm (Sr, Sr+) are especially important. In addition, Sr is a very prominent atom for the analysis of quantum gases thus relevant for fundamental physical research.
EAGLEYARD, who has yet primarily focused on red/infrared wavelengths is now involved in R&D activities for blue and green laser diodes with dedicated lead customers. The results are expected to yield in prototypes for the broader market during 2025/2026.
Yes, our butterfly packages are hermetically sealed.
We specialise in the development and manufacturing of semiconductor laser components and do not offer drivers or temperature controllers. However, a small selection of mounts and boards for evaluating the lasers is available. In addition, a wide range of equipment for our laser components is available on the market.
We do not offer PIC-based products as commercially-off-the-shelf products. For our core wavelength range (red to IR) the technology is not sufficiently mature nor cost efficient to integrate it into our standard offering. However, EAGLEYARD is involved in relevant research programmes to evaluate and advance PIC technology for its suitability in combination with our laser diodes. Our commercially available gain chip products are widely used as suitable gain media in combination with novel PIC structures.
Single mode lasers or RWL (ridge waveguide lasers) are laser diodes with straight waveguides. Single-mode laser diodes are a type of semiconductor laser designed to emit light in a single transverse mode, meaning the laser operates with a single spatial and longitudinal mode of light. This results in a small spectral widht (few nanometers or less) and stable beam with excellent beam quality. Single frequency lasers have similar properties, but these typ of lasers have an additional grating integarted resulting in a narrow spectral linewidth in the range of MHz or even less.
Gain chips are semiconductor device that provides optical amplification, but it is not a complete laser by itself. Often, gain chips are used in systems where an external cavity provides feedback for laser oscillation. This enables precise wavelength tuning and control.
Unfortunately we are not able to lend our customers a laser for testing purposes. Other than lasers in desktop devices our laser components are not protected against unwanted overvoltage, overheating, ESD or other impacts from outside. These impacts can lead to damages or pre-damages of the laser diode that are difficult to detect. Therefore we do not reuse lasers that have been used before, Our strict quality policy only allows the delivery of unused lasers.
USAGE
A tapered amplifier can be used to increase the output power for example of DFB lasers or other single frequency lasers such as miniECLs or macroscopic ECDLs. The advantage of the tapered amplfier is that only the power is amplified and the pure spectral properties of the seed source remains.
RWS is a word creation by TOPTICA EAGLEYARD – it stands for “Rich Waveguide Stabilized” and uses the same chip material, design and technology as classical DFB lasers – but at half the price. RWS lasers are specifically developed for industrial usage, mainly for interferometry and users that are very price sensitive. RWS lasers can make your project become reality when you need a small linewidth but are +/- 3 nm flexible with regards to the center wavelength tolerance as the RWS has a broader specification range than a DFB laser diode. We guarantee a mode-hop free range when operating conditions are set ideally. Our RWS laser is available at 780 nm – a sweet spot for great performance of the laser and sensitivity for Si detectors that are available at very low costs compared to other wavelengths making our RWS laser a real ‘cost-saver’ in purchase and (!) usage.When working with blood flow measurement in life science or industrial measurement technology like speed and distance measurement, vibration or thickness measurement make sure to check out our RWS lasers!
Our multimode laser diodes operate with both spatial and longitudinal modes, delivering flexibility across multiple applications. Constructed on GaAs wafer substrates, these laser diodes cover a wavelength range from 653 nm to 1064 nm. To fine-tune the beam shape and output power to specific needs, we provide stripe widths from 60 µm to 400 µm. Depending on the wavelength and chip design, our multimode laser diodes can achieve output powers ranging from 1 W to 18 W in continuous wave operation or up to 100W in pulse mode operation. Typ. pulse widths range from ns to µs with duty cycles up to 50%, but also QCW mode operation with ms pulses are feasible.
An RWE laser diode is a gain chip that can be used in an external cavity diode laser (ECDL).
The first version -9001 is fully compatible with laser and TEC drivers from Arroyo, ILX or controllers with similar pin confirguration. The -9002 version is compatible to controlles from Thorlabs or controllers with that pin configuration. For self build or independet controllers the version -9003 is suitable.
The beam profile of the miniTA is optimized at the specified output power. The further away the laser is operated from this condition the more the beam will differ from a circular shape. The reason for this is the astigmatism of the TA chip, which depends on the operating conditions.
The laser component can be used under the absolute maximum ratings for a short period of time. For long term suage please refer to the section recommened operating conditions.
In our data sheets we specify the wavelength in vacuum.
We recommend the following procedure. 1. Gather Materials: Ensure you have the necessary cleaning tools: a lint-free wipe or a reel-based fiber optic cleaner (such as a cassette cleaner), 99% isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and a fiber inspection microscope if available. 2. Power Off Equipment: Disconnect the fiber from any equipment and ensure the laser source is powered off to avoid damage to your eyes. 3. Inspect the Connector: Use a fiber optic inspection microscope to check for dirt, debris, or scratches on the ferrule end-face. If the fiber is clean, no further action is needed. If dirty, proceed to cleaning. 4. Dry Cleaning Method: For lightly contaminated fibers, use a reel-based cleaner or lint-free wipe. Gently press the ferrule against the cleaning surface and swipe in one direction. 5. Wet-Dry Cleaning Method: For heavier contamination, moisten a lint-free wipe with a small amount of IPA. Lightly wipe the ferrule end-face with the wet portion, then immediately follow with a dry part of the wipe to remove any residual alcohol. 6. Re-inspect the Fiber: Use the microscope to ensure the fiber end-face is clean. If contamination remains, repeat the cleaning process. 7. Reconnect the Fiber: Once clean, reconnect the fiber to your equipment.
Within our products (if not stated otherwise) both the anode and cathode of the laser can be ground. Most customer chose the cathode as ground.
Many of our lasers achieve a power level that complies with laser class 4 (according to IEC 60825-1 or FDA standard CFR 1040.10 and 1040.40) – especially if the power supply is not limited. However, these laser components can be used to build laser systems that achieve a lower laser classification by reliably controlling and limiting the laser current for all operating conditions or by restricting access to the laser radiation.
“What’s best for my spectroscopic application – a DFB or a miniECL?” – we often hear this question and would like to give you some guidance. If you’re looking for a laser with a broad mode hop free tuning range, we highly recommend a Distributed Feedback (DFB) laser diode while the miniECL is ideal when you require a very narrow linewidth. DFB lasers exhibit linear behavior in wavelength, making them ideal for applications that require stable and continuous tuning. On the other hand, if your application requires a very narrow linewidth, the miniECL is the ideal choice. While miniECLs have mode hops (as displayed in the graphic), they offer a very narrow linewidth, typically around 100 kHz. This makes them perfect for applications where precision at a specific wavelength is crucial, and a broad tuning range is not necessary. Both products are available in a 14 pin hermetically sealed butterfly package with free space output. Our DFB laser diodes in 14 pin butterfly packages are additionally available fiber-coupled and/or with integrated isolator. Moreover, TO-packages complete our DFB portfolio. Remember, DFB lasers must be selected carefully making sure its assets match to your requirements. We’re looking forward to helping you find the ideal solution! You can also check our product finder and select relevant criteria for your search.
The power stability of semiconductor lasers is significantly affected by laser temperature, laser current, and back-reflections. Variations in temperature influence the bandgap and carrier density, leading to changes in the laser’s output power and wavelength. Laser current fluctuations directly impact the number of injected carriers, causing power instability. Additionally, back-reflections from external surfaces or optics can interfere with the laser cavity, introducing feedback that disturbs the lasing process, resulting in intensity noise or even mode hopping. Maintaining stable temperature, precise current control, and minimizing back-reflections are essential for ensuring stable power output in semiconductor lasers.
We offer laser diodes for quantum sensing, quantum computing, quantum networking and quantum metrology. Different package types are available from butterfly package (with free beam or fiber), TO-packge or C-mount: miniECL @ 670 nm, @ 770 nm, 780 nm, 852 nm and 895 nm with output powers from 40 mW – 80 mW, DFB laser diodes @ 780 nm (Rb D2), 795 nm (Rb D1), 852 nm (Cs D2), 895 nm (Cs D1), 922 nm (Sr), 935 nm (Yb) with output powers from 15 mW – 150 mW, miniTA @ 670 nm, @ 765 nm, 780 nm, 795 nm, 850 nm, 895 nm, with output powers from 1 W – 3 W, Tapered Amplifier @ 650 nm, 670 nm, 765 nm, 780 nm, 795 nm, 808 nm, 830 nm, 845 nm, 850 nm, 960 nm, 970 nm, 980 nm with output powers from 0.25 W – 3 W. Check out our profuct finder and filter “QT application” or contact us directly to find the ideal laser diode for your requirements. You can also find corresponding products here.
Our space portfolio is highly-integrated, fully compliant and with space heritage for 760 nm, 852 nm and 1064 nm based on GAIA (ESA), CATS (NASA), ExoMars (ESA) and MERLIN (DLR/CNES) programs. All other wavelengths in butterfly platform fulfill relevant parts of ESCC 23201/23202, MIL and Telcordia standards and can be easily qualified for space applications. Laser diodes can be customized as free beam or fiber-coupled or with other standard DFB wavelengths. Generally the DFB-butterfly products can be rated between TRL6 and TRL9 depending on its specific configuration. We offer laser diodes for interferometry, lidar, optical clocks, oxygen detection and inter- and intra-satellite communication. Take a closer look at our space flyer or use our product finder and filter your application. We’re looking forward to hearing more about your requirements to find the ideal solution for you.
We have space heritage for 760 nm, 852 nm and 1064 nm based on GAIA (ESA), CATS (NASA), ExoMars (ESA) and MERLIN (DLR/CNES) programs. There are additional confidental space programs that our team is currently working on.
Many of our favorite applications can be found in life science. We are amazed by what is already possible and what is currently being developed: True game-changers for the world and for so many individual lives! The miniTA and miniECL product family with various wavelengths are ideal for magmetometers whereas our multimode BAL laser diodes best fit dental and opthalmology applications. Our DFB lasers and the miniTA enable absoprtion spectroscopy while you might choose our RWS laser diode for spectral contrast imaging & interferometry. We offer our highly integrated laser diodes in various platforms like C-mounts to hermetically sealed TO cans, flatpack and butterfly packages. Inform us about your individual requirements and we’re more than happy to find the best matching solution for you!
Each of our product families includes package designs that are particularly suitable for industrial use. They are designed for industrial assembly processes and are suitable for use in harsh environments. Of particular note are the RWS lasers, which represent a favourable alternative to DBR and DFB lasers within the product family of single-frequency lasers for a variety of interferometric applications.
We require your order in written form on business stationery with a legally binding signature. Following your order process, you will receive an order confirmation with an estimated delivery date.
You can pay immediately, in advance, by credit card, 20 days net and 30 days net.
No, for standard products we have no minimum order quantity.
Our products can be purchased worldwide.
We deliver free of charge within Germany. Shipping costs apply outside Germany. We are flexible: you are welcome to give us the customer number of the supplier you prefer to collect the lasers for you.
Our delivery times vary from product to product. We have certain lasers in stock that we can deliver within a week. Other lasers have a delivery time of 16-18 weeks.
We provide advice over the phone, by e-mail or via our sales partners worldwide.
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We work with all common shipping service providers such as DHL, UPS and FedEx.
Depending on the product family, our laser diodes are packed in different blister packs and shrink-wrapped in Pinkpoly. They are then placed in an appropriate cardboard box and additionally protected with filling material.
TOPTICA EAGLEYARD is part of the TOPTICA group since 2013. TOPTICA develops and manufactures high-end laser systems for scientific and industrial applications and is based in Munich, Germany. In 2020 EAGLEYARD was renamed to TOPTICA EAGLEYARD implying the togetherness of both companies.
The Eagleyard Photonics GmbH was founded in 2002 as a spinn-off the Ferdinand-Braun-Insitute. It belongs to the TOPTICA group since 2013 and uses the brand name TOPTICA EAGLEYARD.
Currrently, TOPTICA EAGLEYARD has around 70 employees all based in Berlin.
TOPTICA EAGLEYARD is based in Berlin-Adlershof.
TOPTICA EAGLEYARD manufactures its laser diodes in Berlin.
We participate in many research project currently, e.g. Qu-PIC, SIM Q Pla, Polychrome and QD Sense.
Of course, our vacancies vary over the course of a financial year. In general, we are looking for committed, motivated new colleagues with expertise in the fields of laser technology/photonics, optics and microassembly. A particular focus in recruiting is on hiring microtechnologists for our assembly and connection technology. We are looking for long-term reinforcements for our manufacturing production. Throughout the year, we also regularly advertise positions for working students to strengthen our Research & Development and Manufacturing Engineering departments. In general, our target group includes physicists, electrical/process engineers, technicians and physical-technical assistants, so an unsolicited application may well be worthwhile, even if none of these positions are currently advertised. We also offer work placements for students and apprenticeships in production. To get an overview of our current vacancies, please visit our career page. We look forward to receiving your application!
Naturally, the benefits vary from job to job, but EAGLEYARD is valued by all employees across the various departments for its flexibility and as a family-friendly employer. We offer mobile working where the tasks allow it and have a flexitime model with core working hours. Many employees work part-time at EAGLEYARD, but can increase their hours to full-time if necessary. Every full-time employee has 30 days‘ holiday entitlement, plus two additional days’ holiday on 24th and 31st December and further daysoff from the age of 60. We try to accommodate all holiday requests, especially during holiday periods. Three weeks’ holiday in a row during the summer holidays is not unusual. We also counteract inflation with regular salary adjustments at the end of the financial year and pay voluntary year-end bonuses in the event of a positive annual result. We promote your professional and personal development through internal and external certified workshops and training courses. We make your start, including induction, easier with an induction plan, various training courses and an onboarding day where all departments introduce themselves. To speed up integration into the team, we organise various team events such as barbecues, paddling, table tennis tournaments, company relay races and restaurant visits throughout the year. Not only the team spirit, but also the health of our EAGLES is strengthened by a one-hour active break once a week. Of course, we also provide free drinks and fruit baskets at regular intervals. EAGLEYARD employees also receive discounts and offers of up to 50 % from various providers, both offline and online. The innovation location Adlershof itself offers relevant networking opportunities with institutes and industry partners, has good public transport connections and a wide range of shopping and dining options, from inexpensive canteens to good Italian restaurants with a view of the Teltow Canal. Even if you’re travelling by car, there are always nearby parking options in the side streets and backyard. In the team, even the working student is on first-name terms with the CEO, we have no dress code and define ourselves through transparent communication, open doors and short decision-making processes.
The induction programme differs from department to department and starting time. However, every new team member, regardless of whether they are a permanent employee, intern or student, should receive a good overview of the company, the location and the individual departments as standard in order to quickly gain an overview of their own area of responsibility and promote collaborative thinking. For this reason, an individual induction plan is drawn up for each new onboarding candidate. Your personal buddy is responsible for the creation. Progress is checked at regular intervals by the team leads. On the start day, in addition to the bureaucratic formalities, safety training will take place and the HR department will provide you with the most important information about everyday life at EAGLEYARD. Later in the day, you will be introduced to all the EAGLES present and familiarised with all the premises.
Our onboarding day takes place once every three months. At this event, all departments are represented by one or two representatives. The tasks, team members, special features and current challenges in the department are discussed. In the first six months, you will have one or two feedback meetings with your team lead to discuss your progress, performance, etc.
You can’t really say that in general terms. If you find an advertised position with us interesting, we would be pleased if you would include not only a CV, but also a letter of motivation and relevant (work) references with your application documents. We also often ask for references. For applications from working students, we also like to see the current enrolment certificate and course description. If you have applied directly via our applicant management portal, you will immediately receive an automated confirmation of receipt. For unsolicited applications via jobs[at]toptica-eagleyard.com, you will only receive confirmation of receipt after your application has been added to the applicant management portal. In this case, you will need to confirm our privacy policy via a link. Only then will we proceed with your application. After your documents have been reviewed by the HR and specialist department, you will either be invited to an initial interview via video call or to a personal interview on site if you are suitable. At least one member of the specialist department and, as a rule, one member of the HR department will be present at each interview. In the initial interviews, we primarily want to get to know the person behind the CV. As a rule, there will be a second meeting on site to give you an insight into our premises, introduce you to your future team and let you try out some work. This can take the form of a small design task after prior instruction; it can be a presentation of your thesis/doctoral thesis or even the operation of a microscope, to name a few examples. For special positions, especially those with management responsibility, our CEO Claus will also want to get to know you. If everything is right from both sides, we will send you an initial draft contract. If you have no requests for changes, you can come in person to sign the contract or it will be sent to you by post. Some positions are only advertised for a certain period of time, which is why it may be the case that you have only recently applied and you are rejected despite being suitable because we have either already received enough suitable applications for this position or have already hired someone. As a rule, we will then invite you to join our talent pool so that we can contact you for new interesting positions. Unless otherwise agreed, your application will be deleted from our system after six months. So please don’t be confused if we can no longer recognise you when you reapply.
There really is no such thing as a typical EAGLEYARD employee. We employ people of all ages, from career starters to those about to retire. We often employ people in production who have completed vocational training, but also academics. In our wafer fabrication and research and development department, there are even some PhD graduates among the academics. Due to our core expertise and our industry focus, we have a clear STEM focus when hiring, even though we naturally have an administrative apparatus like any company, where many employees have a business or commercial degree. Most academics who work at EAGLEYARD have a degree in physics, engineering or, less frequently, computer science. Of course, we have also hired career changers in the past, where we took a closer look at the soft skills of the applicants. However, this is not feasible for all positions. On average, our employees have been with the company for five years and we have already celebrated 20 years with many of them.
If you can’t find a suitable position among those currently advertised, there’s no harm in sending an unsolicited application via jobs[at]toptica-eagleyard.com. Please always state which positions you could generally imagine, what interests you, what your approximate salary expectations are and until when you will be available to the labour market. Sometimes positions are not even advertised yet and you make it easier for us to find staff. However, please don’t be disappointed if we don’t have a suitable position for you at that time. If you have an attractive profile and convincing application documents, we will invite you to join our talent pool via a link so that we can contact you about new vacancies that suit you.
You can use our contact form on the website, send us an e-mail (info@toptica-eagleyard.com) or call us: +493063924520. Dont’ forget to follow us on Linked In.
Our sales team and our sales partners from around the world exhibit at many relevent trade shows. You can see all dates and shows on our event site here.
In order to know who is the right contact person for you, please send us an e-mail to info@toptica-eagleyard.com or use our contact form stating what laser diode you’re interested in or let us know your application and we’ll forward your request to an expert covering your region.
CONTACT US
We can’t wait to learn more about your specific requirements! Contact us for more information – we’re here to empower your vision!
info@toptica-eagleyard.com
