Sources Sought Notice - Narrowband Mid-IR laser with tunable wavelength and tunable repetition rate

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting market research to identify potential sources of commercial products or services that can provide a narrowband, mid-IR laser with tunable wavelength and tunable repetition rate. The laser will be used to enhance advanced AFM metrology for measuring thermal properties of materials at the nanoscale. The ideal laser system should meet specific technical specifications, including emitting light pulses with a narrow linewidth, broad wavelength tunability, short pulse length, and moderately high and tunable repetition rate. • The laser source should consist of a single laser or an array of lasers housed in a single enclosure, emitting collinear light from a single port for all emitted wavelengths. • The laser source should emit light pulses with a wavelength tunable between approximately 2.5 μm to 10.0 μm without gaps or a wider range. • The laser source should emit light pulses with a pulse length between 0.1 ns and 10 ns. • The laser shall emit light pulses with linewidths < 8 cm-1, with < 4 cm-1 preferred. • The laser system should enable continuous or stepped tuning of the emitted wavelength with 1 cm-1 steps at an average rate of 9 cm-1/s or faster. • The laser shall emit light pulses with a repetition rate tunable at least between 100 kHz to 200 kHz or a wider range with a 1 kHz resolution or better. • The laser system should include a reference visible alignment laser with output collinear with the output of the main mid-IR laser to facilitate alignment operation. NIST is seeking information from sources that may be capable of providing a solution that achieves the objectives described above. Respondents should provide information on their company, the equipment they recommend, technical specifications, performance capabilities, and any other relevant details.