Description
Key Technical Specifications
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Model Number: 7712 (order code 8070-0159-02)
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Manufacturer: ZYGO Corporation (USA)
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Laser Type: Helium-Neon, continuous-wave, heterodyne
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Wavelength: 632.8 nm
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Output Power: 0.9 mW (nominal)
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Beam Diameter: 6 mm
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Split Frequency: 20 MHz ± 1.6 kHz
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Frequency Stability: ±1.5 ppm typical (1 s Allan deviation)
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Spatial Mode: TEM00-like, center-truncated Gaussian
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Polarization: Two orthogonally polarized frequency components
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Beam Isolation: Internal optical isolator (30 dB typical)
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Warm-up Drift: < 5 nm equivalent after 25 min
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Life Expectancy: > 20 000 h mean-time-between-replacement
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Cooling: Air-cooled head (facility water optional for highest stability)
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Power Input: ±15 V & +5 V DC from ZMI electronics rack
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Interfaces: RF beat pick-off (BNC), interlock, temperature monitor
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Weight: 3.9 kg head only
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Operating Temperature: –40 °C…+70 °C head; best stability 15-30 °C
ZYGO 7712
Field Application & Problem Solved
Wafer steppers need sub-nanometer stage feedback while the floor vibrates at 50 Hz. Bolt the 7712 to the frame, run the 6 mm beam through a double-pass interferometer, and the 20 MHz beat gives you 0.31 nm resolution at 2.55 m/s when paired with a ZMI 4104 receiver. I’ve used these on 200 mm litho tracks—one laser feeds three axes, stays locked during a 0.5 g earthquake, and drifts < 5 nm over an eight-hour shift. Core value: it collapses a frequency-stabilized source, optical isolator, and RF driver into one 3.9 kg head that you can swap without re-aligning the entire metrology path.
Wafer steppers need sub-nanometer stage feedback while the floor vibrates at 50 Hz. Bolt the 7712 to the frame, run the 6 mm beam through a double-pass interferometer, and the 20 MHz beat gives you 0.31 nm resolution at 2.55 m/s when paired with a ZMI 4104 receiver. I’ve used these on 200 mm litho tracks—one laser feeds three axes, stays locked during a 0.5 g earthquake, and drifts < 5 nm over an eight-hour shift. Core value: it collapses a frequency-stabilized source, optical isolator, and RF driver into one 3.9 kg head that you can swap without re-aligning the entire metrology path.
Installation & Maintenance Pitfalls (Expert Tips)
Mode balance walks with temperature – After 25 min warm-up the X & Y polarized outputs must be within 5 % of each other; otherwise the heterodyne signal drops 20 % and you’ll chase “low MEAS” faults. Let the head cook for 30 min before you lock the final alignment .
Beam height tolerance ±1 mm – The internal isolator is wedged; tilt the head > 1° and back-reflection walks off the cavity, killing frequency stability. Shim the mount, don’t crank the bolts
Mode balance walks with temperature – After 25 min warm-up the X & Y polarized outputs must be within 5 % of each other; otherwise the heterodyne signal drops 20 % and you’ll chase “low MEAS” faults. Let the head cook for 30 min before you lock the final alignment .
Beam height tolerance ±1 mm – The internal isolator is wedged; tilt the head > 1° and back-reflection walks off the cavity, killing frequency stability. Shim the mount, don’t crank the bolts
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RF pick-off cable length is critical – The 20 MHz beat rides on 50 Ω coax; add 2 m extra and phase shift gives false 0.1 nm steps. Use the supplied 1 m cable or trim to match the original length exactly
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Ignore the 20 000 h hour-counter at your peril – Output drops 20 % at end-of-life; the ZMI board compensates until 0.7 mW then throws “Laser Low”. Log hours in the CMMS and order the spare at 18 000 h or you’ll discover the weakness during a production lot .
ZYGO 7712
Technical Deep Dive & Overview
The 7712 is a dual-frequency He-Ne laser head. An internal Bragg cell splits the 632.8 nm line into two orthogonally polarized frequencies 20 MHz apart. A corner-cube cavity and active heater loop hold the cavity length to < 0.1 µm, giving frequency stability of ±1.5 ppm. The internal isolator prevents back-reflection from the interferometer from pulling the cavity; the RF pick-off mixes the two beams and delivers the 20 MHz heterodyne signal to the ZMI electronics. Air-cooling removes ~25 W of waste heat; hold the head within ±0.1 °C for ultimate stability. No user adjustments—just ±15 V and +5 V and the beat is present; lose any supply and the interlock kills the laser tube in < 1 ms to save mirror coatings
The 7712 is a dual-frequency He-Ne laser head. An internal Bragg cell splits the 632.8 nm line into two orthogonally polarized frequencies 20 MHz apart. A corner-cube cavity and active heater loop hold the cavity length to < 0.1 µm, giving frequency stability of ±1.5 ppm. The internal isolator prevents back-reflection from the interferometer from pulling the cavity; the RF pick-off mixes the two beams and delivers the 20 MHz heterodyne signal to the ZMI electronics. Air-cooling removes ~25 W of waste heat; hold the head within ±0.1 °C for ultimate stability. No user adjustments—just ±15 V and +5 V and the beat is present; lose any supply and the interlock kills the laser tube in < 1 ms to save mirror coatings
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