OPerA Solo Customer Course

The OPerA Solo Customer course prepares students to better operate, maintain, and troubleshoot their OPerA Solo and accessories (if present). The course content is flexible and often customized to the needs and interests of the students attending. A typical course covers the topics listed below, tailored to a level appropriate for the students. The course begins with a presentation on laser safety, followed by a presentation on the OPA. After the presentation, the instructor walks the students through the optical alignment of the OPA and accessories (if present). Different troubleshooting procedures are discussed at this time. The optical hands-on is limited to a few basic adjustments in order to preserve the current operating condition of the installed laser. If time permits, the instructor will stage different troubleshooting scenarios for the students to resolve.

Topics: Laser, electrical, and lab safety; review of specifications and typical operating conditions; laser and OPA basics; theory of operation; review of optical beam paths; demonstration of alignment optimization; wavelength tuning and calibration; laser optimization; software control and instructions; maintenance procedures; optics cleaning; turn on/off procedures; discussion of available/typical diagnostics; troubleshooting scenarios.

Prerequisites: Successfully completing the course for their KHz amplifier and all of its

Prerequisites. A basic theoretical understanding of optics and lasers is strongly recommended but not required. The course does not include the KHz amplifier, seed laser, or pump lasers.