Affordable high-speed PIV: Laser diode pulsing system

The laser diode pulsing system (LD-PS) by OPTOLUTION is a low-cost illumination for Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). It generates bright and very thin light sheets with user selectable pulse spacing and pulse length. The high-speed PIV system is very compact and extremely easy to use. The high brightness is achieved by toggling (arrays of) high-power laser diodes using a special laser driver circuit. We offer optical peak power outputs of 500 mW, 5 W, 20 W, 40 W and 400W. The systems can be used for measurements in air or water. Pulse frequencies of up to 500 kHz are possible.

Our unique PIV equipment is designed and built by ourselves in Loerrach, Germany.

The OPTOLUTION synchronizer can be directly attached to the modules. The system can be set up very easily using radio control in PIVlab. Several cameras are supported in PIVlab. But the laser can also accept TTL pulses from a third-party synchronizer. Light sheet optics, an optical rail and a tripod mount (Manfrotto 200PL- Quick Release Plate) are included.

The settings of the OPTOLUTION synchronizer are changed wirelessly (USB radio dongle included) - directly from PIVlab. The very compact LD-PS is actively air-cooled by two fans and has a very small average power consumption.

The most important advantage over continuous wave lasers is that frame straddling can be enabled, allowing to capture higher velocity events using very low interframe time (down to 10 µs interframe time is possible). Duty cycles up to 50% are possible (10% with the 400 W laser)

Data sheets and instructions can be found on the right-hand side.

Please check out our interactive PIV-Configurator to see our recommendations!

PIV lasers comparison chart

	Unit	LD-PS/0.5	LD-PS/5	LD-PS/20	LD-PS/40	LD-PS/400
Peak power	W	0.5	5	20	40	400
Laser Class	-	2M	4	4	4	4
Standard wavelengths	nm	638, 520, 465, 450, 405	450	450	450	455
Sheet opening angle	deg	15	15	15	15	30
Min. sheet thickness	mm	<0.7	<0.7	<1	<1	~2-3
Max. duty cycle	%	50	50	50	50	10
Min. pulse length	µs	2	2	2	2	1
Max. modulation frequency	kHz	500	500	500	500	500
Mainly for use in	-	Water	Water	Water	Water / Air	Air / Water
Approx. max. velocity in water (100x100 mm FOV, pco.panda 26 DS)	m/s	0.7	7	10	15	50
Approx. max. velocity in air (100x100 mm FOV, pco.panda 26 DS)	m/s	0.07	1	4	8	30
Cost	-	€	€	€€€	€€€€	€€€€€ - €€€€€€€*

* 400 W Laser: cost depends on the application: Low-speed PIV vs. high-speed (time-resolved / realtime) PIV

The PIV system in action: