PI’s V-508 direct drive linear stage family is an ideal candidate for precision optical delay lines. The direct drive linear motor provides minimum incremental motion of 1nm, equivalent to ~7 attoseconds of delay. This performance is made possible by an interferometric-type linear encoder that provides 20 picometers resolution. The maximum optical delay the V-508 stage can provide is 1668 ps, larger PI linear stage models can achieve up to 8,000 ps.
Time-resolved, ultrafast spectroscopy allows a very close and precise look at dynamic processes in materials and chemical compounds. With the help of ultra-short pulse lasers, changes on an incredibly small time scale down to the attosecond range can be made visible.