Chilas Launches New Control Software and Open-Source Python Library for ATLAS and COMET Lasers

Enschede, The Netherlands, April 14th, 2026

We are happy to introduce our new tunable laser control software for the ATLAS Wavelength-Tunable and the COMET Swept Source Laser. This software provides a redesigned Graphical User Interface (GUI) and is powered by an Open-Source Python Library. We are especially proud of this release as this software has been fully developed in-house at Chilas. The version available today is not the result of a short development cycle, but of years of continuous refinement: iterating on internal use, incorporating customer feedback, and improving usability and performance.

The new Graphical User Interface (GUI) is designed for intuitive control with straightforward operation modes. For example, the ATLAS wavelength-tunable laser supports a “tune” mode, where the wavelength can be easily adjusted with a slider. The slider updates the laser-internal settings based on a supplied calibration lookup table.

Chilas laser controller software interface in tuning mode with absolute wavelength slider, real-time wavelength display, and fine step tuning controls

Advanced users can also operate the laser in a “manual” mode, which enables precise control of all the laser-internal settings.

Chilas laser controller software interface in manual mode

For the COMET Swept-Source Laser, an additional “sweep” mode is available, to enable sweep operation based on a slider for setting the wavelength range.

The GUI is available for download on our lasers product pages as well as via this link. Note that full functionality is only available after connection with a Chilas Laser.

Chilas laser controller software interface in sweeping mode with sweep mode slider and real-time wavelength display

Introducing PyChilasLasers: Open-Source Python Library

The GUI is powered by a newly developed Python Package called PyChilasLasers. This comprehensive package facilitates customized laser control. We offer PyChilasLasers Open-Source, so that customers can include our laser control in their applications without restrictions. The package can be easily installed using the well-known Python package manager with pip install PyChilasLaser. A quick start-guide guides the user through a demo script to connect with the laser, set the operation mode, and control the laser wavelength.

For example, tuning a Chilas laser to the first C-band ITU cannel is just as easy as entering laser.tune.wavelength = 1577.03. The library is designed such that users can build their scripts to integrate Chilas lasers into their systems for research and product development.

Together, the GUI and Python library make our tunable lasers easy to control, flexible to integrate, and ready for any research or industrial setup.

To learn more about the new software, download the GUI, or get started with PyChilasLasers. If you have any questions or would like to explore how this fits your setup, our team is always happy to help.

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