Elliot Scientific is now distributing products from Kryoz Technologies in the UK and Ireland. The CryoLab Series is a range of fully integrated desktop systems designed for rapid circuit or material characterisation measurements from ambient down to cryogenic temperatures in a fully automated manner. Doing measurements doesn’t require any experience or know-how of cryogenics, vacuum technology or thermodynamics from the user. Applications include:

• High Temperature Superconductors (HTS)
• Thin Films
• Thermoelectrics - The Seebeck Effect
• Resistance & Hall coefficient measurements
  by the van der Pauw Method
• Optical sensors

The test sample - maximum size 10 x 10 mm - is affixed to a guitar-shaped carrier with electrical connections made to it from integrated bonding/solder pads. These are routed through the CryoLab for connection to a DAQ interface or CryoLab Breakout Box. A two minute demo video can be seen here.

Although CryoLab can be fully operated as a stand-alone, the companion CryoVision software enables control of the system in more detail. All parameters can be seen at a glance, and switching between user-defined set-points and saved programs can be made. A smartphone app is also available.

For more information on these exciting new products from Kryoz Technologies, please contact us.

This summer will see the launch of the Slimline ICE system (SLICE) by Vescent Photonics.
 
Based on the proven Integrated Control Electronics system, SLICE is a new modular product range developed for high-speed, low-noise analogue control of semiconductor lasers. It offers a digital interface, for ease and flexibility; and a single function per SLICE, so you can mix, match and easily expand.
 
Each individual SLICE incorporates a single ICE board. For example, one could have a CS1 board to drive and peak lock a diode, while another might have a QT1 to control four temperature loops. Any ICE board currently available can be chosen for a SLICE, and new ones are in development. These include:

• A two channel current controller offering 1 amp per channel
• A low-noise Libbrecht-Hall current driver
• A servo board similar to the D2-125, but with more functions
• ...and more

So, if you are considering a new multi-laser system, then ICE is your best choice, but if you want to add functionality to your existing system, then SLICE will give you a specific capability.
 
For more information about ICE, SLICE or Vescent Photonics, then please contact us.

Actinic
Edinburgh: June 26th to July 26th

Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Open Days
Harwell, Oxfordshire: July 8th to 11th

Light Weekend
Hailsham, East Sussex: July 18th to 19th

Ato ID has issued performance and application details for their next-generation of disposable glass substrates for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and/or Surface Enhanced Fluorescence (SEF).
 
The new, smaller Ato ID 'MatoS' gold and 'RandaS' silver Plasmonic Sensor Substrates are available in addition to the existing 1" square 'Randa' and 'Mato' ranges and continue to deliver up to 8x more sensitivity than leading rivals.
 
The new ½" long small form factor slides are individually vacuum packed in 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes to enable easier handling for fresh, on-the-spot analysis of immersed material.

• Size: 12.5 x 5 x 1 mm
• Active area: 3 x 5 mm
• Excitation wavelengths:
  • Silver RandaS: 442 nm to NIR
  • Gold MatoS: 600 nm to NIR

Download the Ato ID brochure
 
For extra information about these new SERS substrates from Ato ID, please contact us.

Lake Shore Cryotronics has released an update for the Model 372 AC Resistance Bridge and Temperature Controller that increases the speed at which data can be collected, and delivers more accurate measurements.
 
The Model 372 readily performs multiple tasks at very low temperatures. These include controlling and reading temperature, and sample impedance measurements. With this firmware update, the instrument adds two new user-selectable AC excitation frequencies: 11.6 and 18.2 Hz, to supplement the existing 9.8, 13.7 and 16.2 Hz frequencies, expanding the number of simultaneous measurements that can be made.
 
In addition, replacement of the instrument's original linear interpolation method with a new cubic-spline algorithm improves accuracy and reduces interpolation error by as much as 0.2 mK when converting resistance measurements to temperature values.
 
These latest enhancements ensure that the 372 retains its industry-leading capabilities, making it ideal for ultra-low temperature applications in the sub-1 K range. Please contact us for further information on this update.

Laser World of Photonics: Messe München, Germany
22nd-25th June 2015