GB-Swindon: UKRI-2463 The supply of a Mode-locked Femtosecond Laser System at Daresbury Laboratory

STFC is seeking to purchase a low noise mode-locked femtosecond fibre laser system to extend the lifetime and upgrade the capability of the CLARA Timing Network. The CLARA Timing Network distributes laser pulses from a fibre laser system to various end stations in the CLARA Accelerator via timing stabilised optical fibres. Fibre-based timing laser system have limited lifetimes, therefore it is prudent to purchase secondary system to minimise downtime and disruption that would be result from a failure of the CLARA Fibre Timing laser. The laser system must be compatible with the CLARA Timing Network, and have similar or higher performance than the existent CLARA Fibre Timing laser. The laser system main output should be free space coupled. The average output power of the laser system must be at least 100 mW. The pulse repetition rate of the laser system is to be 249.875 MHz and the laser will be required to be synchronised with the CLARA RF master reference at 2.9985 GHz. The CLARA timing network distributes laser pulses throughout the accelerator via optical fibre. As such the laser should have a central wavelength within the 1530-1565 nm communications window.