PDA10CS In Stock

The PDA10CS by ThorLabs is a top-quality Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) switchable gain detector designed for detecting light signals ranging from 900 to 1700 nm. With its removable threaded coupler and retainer ring, the PDA10CS is compatible with 1" threaded accessories, making it easy to mount apertures, light filters, external optics, and compatible cage assembly accessories.

The PDA10CS features a low-offset, low-noise, high-gain transimpedance amplifier with gain adjustability of up to 70dB. It's effortless to modify the gain level with a simple turn of the gain control knob which is positioned prominently on the top of the unit. The gain control has eight positions, incremented in 10dB steps, ranging from 1.51 kV/A (17 MHz) to 4.75 MV/A (12 kHz). It's essential to keep in mind that as the gain value increase, the bandwidth will decrease in tandem. The buffered output drives 50 Ω load impedances up to 5 V, making the PDA10CS a versatile choice for a number of light detection needs.

The PDA10CS has a ±12 V linear power supply that should be connected to the proper voltage range before being connected to the mains. The user can use the PDA10CS for measuring both pulsed and CW light sources. Additionally, packaged in a rugged housing, the PDA10CS features a PIN photo diode that is reverse-based, mated to an amplifier that has switchable gain transimpedance. Dark current is the leakage current within a photodiode when it has a bias voltage applied. This current is determined by the properties of the detector material, as well as its active area size.

The PDA10CS has a maximum output of 10 volts for high impedance loads (i.e., RLoad > 5 kΩ) and 5 volts for 50 Ω loads. To prevent saturation of the signal, the gain should be adjusted accordingly so that the output voltage measured by the PDA10CS is not more than 10 volts (5 volts with 50 Ω load). Depending on the photodiode type, load resistance can affect the response speed. To achieve maximum bandwidth, we recommend using a 50 Ω coaxial cable with a 50 Ω terminating resistor at the opposite end of the cable. This will reduce ringing by pairing the cable with a characteristic impedance that matches it.