Purchase of a state-of-the-art ultrafast high- pulse-energy / tunable wavelength / variable-repetition-rate laser system from Light Conversion

The FELIX laboratory is an international user facility that hosts a suite of free-electron lasers (FELs) that deliver picosecond-long optical pulses that are highly tunable in wavelength in the infrared and THz spectral range. For the project devoted to studying how optical phonons interact with magnetization and electric polarization on …

CPV: 38000000 Équipements de laboratoire, d'optique et de précision (excepté les lunettes)
Lieu d'exécution:
Purchase of a state-of-the-art ultrafast high- pulse-energy / tunable wavelength / variable-repetition-rate laser system from Light Conversion
Service d'adjudication:
Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
Numéro d'adjudication:
T147300

1. Buyer

1.1 Buyer

Official name : Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen

2. Procedure

2.1 Procedure

Title : Purchase of a state-of-the-art ultrafast high- pulse-energy / tunable wavelength / variable-repetition-rate laser system from Light Conversion
Description : The FELIX laboratory is an international user facility that hosts a suite of free-electron lasers (FELs) that deliver picosecond-long optical pulses that are highly tunable in wavelength in the infrared and THz spectral range. For the project devoted to studying how optical phonons interact with magnetization and electric polarization on ultrashort timescales, a state-of-the-art table-top probing laser system is required, that will need to meet diverse and complex requirements in terms of temporal resolution, pulse energy, wavelength, variable repetition rates and triggering. To the best of our knowledge, Light Conversion is the only supplier capable of delivering a laser system that complies with these challenging requirements and fits our price range (below 400 k€). In the following, we specify the unique characteristics of the table-top laser system that can be offered by Light Conversion, and discuss how these render the proposed laser-system suitable for our project.
Procedure identifier : d3434a39-4711-4d7d-a4c1-02ef21a5e353
Internal identifier : T147300
Type of procedure : Negotiated without prior call for competition

2.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Supplies
Main classification ( cpv ): 38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

2.1.2 Place of performance

Country : Netherlands
Anywhere in the given country
Additional information : Zie documentatie

2.1.4 General information

Legal basis :
Directive 2014/24/EU

5. Lot

5.1 Lot technical ID : LOT-0000

Title : Purchase of a state-of-the-art ultrafast high- pulse-energy / tunable wavelength / variable-repetition-rate laser system from Light Conversion
Description : The FELIX laboratory is an international user facility that hosts a suite of free-electron lasers (FELs) that deliver picosecond-long optical pulses that are highly tunable in wavelength in the infrared and THz spectral range. For the project devoted to studying how optical phonons interact with magnetization and electric polarization on ultrashort timescales, a state-of-the-art table-top probing laser system is required, that will need to meet diverse and complex requirements in terms of temporal resolution, pulse energy, wavelength, variable repetition rates and triggering. To the best of our knowledge, Light Conversion is the only supplier capable of delivering a laser system that complies with these challenging requirements and fits our price range (below 400 k€). In the following, we specify the unique characteristics of the table-top laser system that can be offered by Light Conversion, and discuss how these render the proposed laser-system suitable for our project.
Internal identifier : T147300

5.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Supplies
Main classification ( cpv ): 38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

5.1.2 Place of performance

Country : Netherlands
Anywhere in the given country
Additional information : Zie documentatie

5.1.6 General information

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) : yes

5.1.16 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : Rechtbank Gelderland -

6. Results

Value of all contracts awarded in this notice : 1 Euro
Direct award :
Justification for direct award : The contract can be provided only by a particular economic operator because of an absence of competition for technical reasons
Other justification : The FELIX laboratory is an international user facility that hosts a suite of free-electron lasers (FELs) that deliver picosecond-long optical pulses that are highly tunable in wavelength in the infrared and THz spectral range. For the project devoted to studying how optical phonons interact with magnetization and electric polarization on ultrashort timescales, a state-of-the-art table-top probing laser system is required, that will need to meet diverse and complex requirements in terms of temporal resolution, pulse energy, wavelength, variable repetition rates and triggering. To the best of our knowledge, Light Conversion is the only supplier capable of delivering a laser system that complies with these challenging requirements and fits our price range (below 400 k€). In the following, we specify the unique characteristics of the table-top laser system that can be offered by Light Conversion, and discuss how these render the proposed laser-system suitable for our project. The free-electron lasers at FELIX deliver infrared pulses at several repetition rates, such as 1GHz, 100 MHz, 50 MHz, and 25 MHz. These are derived from the master clock set at 3 GHz (more precisely, 2998.29 MHz). To therefore achieve ultrashort temporal resolution in pump-probe experiments, the oscillator embedded within the laser system can be designed to match this frequency, with corresponding electronics modules (with a piezo transducer) facilitating cavity-locking and synchronization to an external RF reference. In particular, the timing jitter between the oscillator output and the reference clock (fixed at 2998.29 MHz) is specified to be below 200 fs. Moreover, the offered laser-system can set the relative time delay between the laser pulses and the refence signal, enabling time-resolved experiments without using a mechanical delay stage. As well as facilitating two-color pump-probe experiments involving synchronization with the free-electron laser pulses, the offered laser-system can also operate as a stand-alone unit, allowing for experiments to be conducted in the absence of the free-electron lasers. The system offered by Light Conversion is a compact solid state Kerr lens mode locked laser that includes oscillator and amplifier in single box. It is capable of producing pulses at the wavelength of 1030 nm with a duration 190 fs - 10 ps, linewidth <18 nm at full-width-at-half-maximum, pulse to pulse energy stability < 0.5%, and single pulse energy higher than 2 mJ at repetition rates <10 kHz. The capabilities of the system are further extended with an optical parametric amplifier delivering wavelength range of 630-2600 nm. This will be further upgraded with a second/third harmonic generation module as well a difference-frequency generation module. In total, spectral range of 220-16000 nm will be covered. In the central part of this spectrum (320-4000 nm) the system will deliver pulse energy in excess of 20 J. Using the techniques of “pulse-slicing” or “cavity-dumping”, FELIX can also deliver single infrared pulses at a repetition rate of 10 Hz. At this repetition rate, we intend to use the pulses delivered by the offered laser-system for illumination within time-resolved pump-probe microscopy experiments. An additional complexity comes from the fact that the 10-Hz repetition rate of the macrobursts delivered by FELIX is derived not from the reference clock but rather from the electrical grid. As such, it becomes compulsory to select exactly which pulses are amplified from the laser’s oscillator. Light Conversion offers the solution which allows an external TTL signal to trigger the EOM and pulse-pickers integrated within the laser system. The laser system therefore delivers single pulses “on-demand” (at frequencies such as 10 Hz) with the same energy as pulses generated at 10 kHz. This is a particularly unique characteristic of the proposed laser system that is vital for its intended purpose. The high pulse-energies offered by the Light Conversion's laser-system will even allow us to perform experiments where the 1030-nm pulses can serve as pump pulses and FELIX as probe within pump-probe spectroscopy. For this type of experiment, it will be important to be able to vary the duration of the pulses delivered by the laser system. This is provided by the laser’s compressor being placed on an automated controller stage, enabling the output pulses to be varied in duration from <190 fs to 10 ps. Light Conversion also supplies software that allows the laser’s output power, the repetition rate and the pulse energy to be tuned. Last but not least, the laser system has a small form-factor (730 × 419 × 230 mm), which is the smallest on the market for a laser of this class and energy. Light Conversion will also provide detailed training on day-by-day operation, as well as on basic troubleshooting, for at least 3 laser engineers/scientists working at the FELIX facility. The above combination of characteristics of the laser offered by Light Conversion render this system uniquely qualified for the project based at the FELIX facility. Thus, it is our intention to procure this laser source from Light Conversion.

6.1 Result lot ldentifier : LOT-0000

6.1.2 Information about winners

Winner :
Official name : Laser 2000 Benelux CV
Tender :
Tender identifier : T147300
Identifier of lot or group of lots : LOT-0000
Contract information :
Identifier of the contract : T147300
Title : Purchase of a state-of-the-art ultrafast high- pulse-energy / tunable wavelength / variable-repetition-rate laser system from Light Conversion
Date on which the winner was chosen : 15/04/2025

8. Organisations

8.1 ORG-0001

Official name : Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
Registration number : 41055629
Postal address : Houtlaan 4
Town : Nijmegen
Postcode : 6525XZ
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Arnhem/Nijmegen ( NL226 )
Country : Netherlands
Contact point : Jan Kiprianidis
Telephone : +31 625015505
Internet address : https://www.ru.nl
Roles of this organisation :
Buyer

8.1 ORG-0002

Official name : Rechtbank Gelderland
Registration number : 82940827
Department : Locatie Arnhem
Postal address : Walburgstraat 2-4
Town : Arnhem
Postcode : 6811CD
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Arnhem/Nijmegen ( NL226 )
Country : Netherlands
Contact point : Rechtbank arnhem
Telephone : +31883612000
Fax : +31883612000
Roles of this organisation :
Review organisation

8.1 ORG-0003

Official name : Laser 2000 Benelux CV
Town : Vinkeveen
Postcode : 3645 ZJ
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Het Gooi en Vechtstreek ( NL327 )
Country : Netherlands
Telephone : +31 297 266191
Roles of this organisation :
Tenderer
Winner of these lots : LOT-0000
Notice information
Notice identifier/version : 7b0511e7-208b-4f3f-a869-5d2f10519fd3 - 01
Form type : Direct award preannouncement
Notice type : Voluntary ex-ante transparency notice
Notice dispatch date : 16/04/2025 11:09 +00:00
Notice dispatch date (eSender) : 16/04/2025 11:10 +00:00
Languages in which this notice is officially available : English
Notice publication number : 00250997-2025
OJ S issue number : 76/2025
Publication date : 17/04/2025