C-Band Calibrator
Hydrogen Cyanide Gas Cell
H13C14N
Hydrogen Cyanide gas absorption has been widely
researched and identified by national standards bodies
as a primary wavelength reference in the C-band from1528nm to 1562nm.
The cells are hard sealed for long life and featureadvanced optical design for very low level of interference
artifacts. The cells are offered in two standard pressures,
100 Torr recommended for OSA calibration and 10 Torr
for tunable lasers.

1. With built in low ripple photodiode which is especially
useful with tunable lasers.
2. With fiber input and output for applications needing
optical output or desiring the flexibility of thisconfiguration.
A tube only option is also available as well as a metal
instrument housing with bulkhead optical connectors
which is useful to protect the cell in a laboratory setting.
Just append “with instrument housing” to the part numberSpecifications1Features• Reliable hard sealed tube, >10 year life
• AR coated optics and wedged windows for low
level of spectral artifacts• Rugged miniaturized package• Custom pressure and connectors• Low cost

• Full C-band coverage

Gas Lines:
Wavelength Range

nm

1525nm to 1565nm

Wavelength Accuracypm
pm±0.3 (1 sigma, 100 Torr)±0.12 (1 sigma, 10 Torr)

Applications

Temperature dependencepm<0.01/°C• Embedded calibrator for tunable laser or OSA

Optical Return LossdB

>40 (typical)• Wavelength locker

Atmospheric pressure orhumidity dependence

not detectable

Linewidth (-3dB)

nm
nm

0.070 typical (100Torr)
0.008 typical (10 Torr)

HCN Pressure (25 °C)

Torr

10 to 600 ±10% (custom)

Carbon Isotope• Sensing systems

13 standard (12 optional)

Absorption line depth (R9)2dB
dB

3.1 typical (100 Torr)
2.5 typical (10 Torr)Interference artifactsdB<0.1 (<0.01 typical)

Cell Lifetimeyears>10Net responsivity

A/W

>0.5

Capacitance (0V)pf

80 typical

Shunt resistance

M>5Ordering Information (example)
HCN

Photodiode:1.
2.

• Laboratory Calibration source-13-CTorr

Type:
Cell with pigtails: C
Photodiode output: CP
With metal housing: CH

Specifications subject to change without notice
For instruments that have resolution better then the line width. When probed withlower resolution devices contrast is reduced

λ- NonePressure:

Isotope:Standard: 13
Optional: 12- 100

Connector(s):
FCPC
FCAPC
SCPCSCAPC
None

Wavelength References
14711 S Buckner Creek Rd
Mulino, OR 97042 USA
Tel: (503) 632-5240 632-5215(fax)
Email: sales@wavelengthreferences.com

R Branch

Wavelength(nm)

P Branch

Wavelength(nm)

2524
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

1528.0541
1528.4862(6)1528.9271
1529.3762
1529.8376(6)1530.3061
1530.7856
1531.2764(6)1531.7738
1532.2825
1532.8024(6)1533.3291
1533.8671
1534.4159(6)1534.9723
1535.5401(6)1536.1170(6)1536.7034(6)1537.2997(6)1537.9069
1538.5224(6)1539.1494
1539.7855
1540.4314
1541.0872
1541.7529

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

1543.1148(6)1543.8094
1544.5147
1545.2314(6)1545.9563(6)1546.6902
1547.4354
1548.1904
1548.9554(6)1549.7302(6)1550.5149(6)1551.3106
1552.1157
1552.9308
1553.7560
1554.5892(6)1555.4346(6)1556.2919
1557.1573
1558.0329
1558.9185
1559.8143
1560.7185(6)1561.6344(6)1562.5625

100 Torr Hydrogen Cyanide Spectrum
Cyanide gas absorption vacuum center wavelengths of the 2ν3 band of H13C14N. The total uncertainty of these lines is ±0.0015nm and is dominated by the pressure shiftuncertainty. The US National Bureau of Standards and Technology (NIST) has measured 21 of these lines on a similar cell of their own design and certified their center
wavelengths with an expanded uncertainty of ±0.0006nm (coverage factor of 2). Coverage factor of 2 means the uncertainty given is twice the standard deviation (1sigma). These lines are shown with a (6) in the table. The line centers at low pressure (<10Torr) are known to ±0.00012nm (1 sigma). For very high accuracy applications
involving narrow line widths (<<0.05nm), choose a lower pressure.
Safety Note: The total quantity of hydrogen cyanide in a standard cell (100Torr) is about 1 milligram. Small amounts of cyanide are a normal result of metabolism and there is no cumulative
effect. For example, the blood of a healthy individual contains about 0.4 milligrams per liter and much more then that if smoking. If the total cell contents were somehow ingested the resultant
increase in cyanide would hardly be detectable much less harmful. The OSHA limit for worker exposure is 5 milligrams per cubic meter for an 8-hour shift. For these reasons even in theunlikely event of a cell breakage the small quantity of cyanide in a cell poses no health hazard. In addition for the same reasons the devices can be shipped by any customary means without
warning labels. Request our detailed safety analysis for further test data and analysis.

.80.8

Transmission

24

0.6

0T

1

22

1

20.4
R branch.2 0.2
1525
1525

1530

781535

P branch

1540

1545
λ
Wavelength

1550

1555

1560

1565
1565