News: Optoelectronics
23 July 2025
Alpes Lasers unveils GLIDER widely tunable mid-IR laser source for solid and liquid spectroscopy
Alpes Lasers SA of St-Blaise, Switzerland — an engineering company pioneering advanced light sources, especially quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) — has launched the GLIDER, its most versatile and powerful widely tunable laser source to date. Designed for fast mid-infrared spectroscopy, the GLIDER delivers what is claimed to be exceptional performance across a wide range of applications, from advanced research to industrial discovery.
The GLIDER combines external cavity technology with a rugged, application-oriented design, making it suitable for both liquid- and solid-phase spectroscopy.
Based on an external cavity design, the GLIDER is a monolithic all-in-one light source that requires no assembly, alignment or external drivers. It is powered by interband cascade lasers (ICL) or quantum cascade lasers (QCL) chips in an external cavity, enabling users to access an unmatched tuning range up to 6µm (850cm–1) — using up to four user-selected laser chips — within a total spectral range of 3–13µm, with up to 1W of peak power.
Due to its high brightness and fast acquisition capabilities, the GLIDER is said to offer a superior alternative to traditional Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) systems — especially in situations where fast-flowing processes or large sample areas need to be monitored in real time. Its laser-based power output allows for better signal-to-noise performance and time-resolved measurements that are out of reach for conventional broadband sources.
A fiber output option is also available, making the GLIDER suitable for applications requiring remote measurements or in-situ chemical reaction monitoring via a probe — further extending its flexibility in laboratory or industrial settings.
The GLIDER also comes with a controller providing a web-based graphical user interface, allowing full access to all system functionalities through a convenient and intuitive platform.
“With its fast scanning capabilities, rich software interface, and modular chip-based design, it is tailored for scientists and engineers who demand flexibility, precision, and speed,” says says sales engineer Mickael Nehlig.
