CRONUS-3P is a laser source developed for advanced nonlinear microscopy. It provides µJ-level pulses down to 50 fs at repetition rates of up to 2 MHz and tunable in the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) range from 1250 to 1800 nm, thus covering the biological transparency windows at 1300 and 1700 nm for three-photon (3P) microscopy. In addition, CRONUS-3P offers integrated GDD control and beam steering, as well as simultaneous 1030 nm output.

Typically, multiphoton imaging in the SWIR range requires a complex multi-device laser system, a large optical table, and skilled staff. This reality encumbers neuroscience and other biomedical applications. The CRONUS-3P system is a next-generation, industrial-grade, single-supplier solution that is more compact, more reliable, and more versatile. It achieves tunable femtosecond excitation with integrated group delay dispersion (GDD) control, ensuring optimal pulse duration at the sample, while industrial-grade design guarantees high pulse-to-pulse energy and long-term power stability.

Output with compressor

Model	CRONUS-3P		CRONUS-3P with power control
Tuning range ¹⁾	1250 – 1800 nm
Repetition rate ²⁾	Single-shot to 1 MHz / 2 MHz
	1300 nm	1700 nm	1300 nm	1700 nm
Pulse duration	< 50 fs	< 65 fs	< 50 fs	< 65 fs
Output power	> 1100 mW @ 1 MHz > 800 mW @ 2 MHz	> 800 mW @ 1 MHz > 500 mW @ 2 MHz	> 1000 mW @ 1 MHz > 700 mW @ 2 MHz	> 700 mW @ 1 MHz > 400 mW @ 2 MHz
GDD control range ³⁾	−4000 to +9000 fs²	−12000 to +3500 fs²	−4000 to +9000 fs²	−12000 to +3500 fs²
Beam diameter ⁴⁾	2 – 4 mm
Beam quality (M²)	< 1.2
Beam ellipticity	> 0.8
Beam divergence	< 1 mrad
Long-term power stability, 24 h ⁵⁾	< 1%
Pulse-to-pulse energy stability, 1 min ⁵⁾	< 1%

Alternative 2P+3P configuration with extended tuning range to 650 – 920 nm is available, contact sales@lightcon.com.
Lower repetition rate with higher pulse energy option available.
Continuous dispersion control; −3000 fs² compensates a microscope with +3000 fs².
1/e², measured at compressor output.
Expressed as NRMSD (normalized root mean squared deviation).

Main output without GDD control

Model	CRONUS-3P		CRONUS-3P with power control
	1300 nm	1700 nm	1300 nm	1700 nm
Output power ¹⁾	> 1500 mW @ 1 MHz > 1000 mW @ 2 MHz	> 1050 mW @ 1 MHz > 700 mW @ 2 MHz	n/a

Available only for v1. Contact sales@lightcon.com for more details.

Auxiliary 1030 nm amplifier output

Model	CRONUS-3P	CRONUS-3P with power control
Center wavelength	1030 ± 10 nm
Maximum output power ¹⁾	40 W
Maximum repetition rate	2 MHz
Pulse duration	< 250 fs

Simultaneous, at the expense of main output; contact sales@lightcon.com for details.

Optional 1030 nm oscillator output

Model	CRONUS-3P	CRONUS-3P with power control
Center wavelength	1030 ± 10 nm
Maximum output power ¹⁾	500 mW
Maximum repetition rate	≈ 65 MHz
Pulse duration	< 120 fs

Simultaneous; contact sales@lightcon.com for details.

Environmental requirements

Model		CRONUS-3P
Operating temperature ¹⁾		19 – 25 ºC (air conditioning recommended)
Relative humidity ¹⁾		20 – 70% (non-condensing)
Electrical requirements	Laser	100 V AC, 7 A – 240 V AC, 3A
Electrical requirements	Chiller	100 – 230 V AC; 50 – 60 Hz
Rated power	Laser	600 W
Rated power	Chiller	1400 W
Power consumption	Laser	500 W
Power consumption	Chiller	1000 W

Specifications are guaranteed for a maximum temperature variation of ± 1^oC and humidity variation of ± 10%.

Dimensions

Model	CRONUS-3P	CRONUS-3P with power control
Footprint without compressor (L × W) ¹⁾	855 × 391 mm (v2) 785 × 350 mm (v1)	n/a
Footprint with compressor (L × W) ¹⁾	855 × 391 mm (v2) 838 × 585 mm (v1)	855 × 391 mm (v2)

See drawings for details.

Performance

Output power and pulse energy vs wavelength of CRONUS-3P. Pump: 40 W, 1 MHz

GDD control range of CRONUS-3P

Typical pulse duration at 1300 nm and 1700 nm of CRONUS-3P

CRONUS-3P beam profile at 1300 nm, 4.2 mm diameter (1/e²)

Stability at 1300 nm

Typical long-term power stability at 1300 nm of CRONUS-3P

Typical pulse-to-pulse energy stability at 1300 nm of CRONUS-3P

Typical pulse-to-pulse energy distribution at 1300 nm of CRONUS-3P

Stability at 1700 nm

Typical long-term power stability at 1700 nm of CRONUS-3P

Typical pulse-to-pulse energy stability at 1700 nm of CRONUS-3P

Typical pulse-to-pulse energy distribution at 1700 nm of CRONUS-3P

CRONUS-3P v2 drawings

CRONUS-3P Laser Source for Advanced Nonlinear Microscopy

CRONUS-3P drawing

CRONUS-3P v1 drawings

CRONUS-3P Laser Source for Advanced Nonlinear Microscopy

CRONUS-3P Laser Source for Advanced Microscopy

CRONUS-3P drawing

Publications

3D nanopolymerization and damage threshold dependence on laser wavelength and pulse duration

D. Samsonas, E. Skliutas, A. Čiburys, L. Kontenis, D. Gailevičius, J. Berzinš, D. Narbutis, V. Jukna, M. Vengris, S. Juodkazis et al., Nanophotonics 0 (0) (2023).

We need to talk about laser pulse energy stability

L. Kontenis, M. Urbšas, J. Berzinš, and K. Neimontas, in Multiphoton Microscopy in the Biomedical Sciences XXIII, A. Periasamy, P. T. So et al., eds. (SPIE, 2023).

Pulse characterization Nonlinear microscopy CRONUS-3P

X-photon laser direct write 3D nanolithography

E. Skliutas, D. Samsonas, A. Čiburys, L. Kontenis, D. Gailevičius, J. Berzinš, D. Narbutis, V. Jukna, M. Vengris, S. Juodkazis et al., Virtual and Physical Prototyping 1 (18) (2023).

Photopolymerization I-OPA CRONUS-3P

Datasheets