PDA100A-EC In Stock

The PDA100A-EC by ThorLabs is a switchable gain detector that is designed to detect light signals ranging from 340 nm to 1100 nm with precision and accuracy. The PDA100A-EC is the perfect solution to measure pulsed or continuous wave light sources. This detector is constructed using a reverse-biased PIN photodiode that is mated to a switchable gain transimpedance amplifier, providing exceptional performance and reliability. It is housed in a rugged casing that ensures its longevity even in demanding environments.

The PDA100A-EC has an eight-position rotary switch that allows users to adjust the gain in 10 dB steps, enabling the detection of even the faintest light signals. A buffered output can effectively drive 50 Ω load impedances up to a maximum voltage of 5 V. Additionally, the housing of the PDA100A-EC features a removable threaded coupler and a retainer ring that is compatible with other 1” threaded accessories, allowing for easy mounting of external optics, light filters, apertures, and convenient mounting into compatible cage assemblies. The PDA100A-EC is capable of producing dark current, which is a leakage current that flows when a bias voltage is applied to a photodiode. However, due to the use of silicon as the detector material, the PDA100A-EC produces a lower amount of dark current when compared to germanium detectors.

The low offset, low noise, high gain transimpedance amplifier included in the PDA100A-EC allows for gain adjustment over a 70 dB range. The gain is easily adjusted by rotating the gain control knob, located on the top side of the unit. The detector has eight switchable maximum gain (bandwidth) combinations from 1.15 kV/A (2.4 MHz) to 4.75 MV/A (5.9 kHz). It is important to note that as the gain increases, the bandwidth will decrease. The PDA100A-EC is suitable for high and low impedance outputs, reaching up to 10 volts for the former and 5 volts for the latter. To avoid saturation, the gain can be adjusted so that the measured signal level out of the detector is below 10 volts (5 volts with a 50 Ω load). Additionally, the PDA100A-EC has internal SM05 (0.535"-40) threading and external SM1 (1.035"-40) threading, allowing for seamless integration with other optical components.