Argon-ion gas lasers have been a workhorse in the industry for years. Many people still use them because they provide wavelengths that, until the past few years, have not been available from more efficient diode or diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) lasers, including 515, 488, 473, 457, and 351 nm. In addition, krypton-ion lasers provide other wavelengths like 415, 568, and 647 nm. One approach for end users who wish to replace an aging ion laser or don’t want to hire an expert to align numerous solid-state lasers to a single beam path is to use a device called the LightHub from Omicron-Laserage (Rodgau, Germany).
LightHub is a compact diode and DPSS laser combiner that provides up to six wavelengths in one integrated package for flow cytometry, holography, and microscopy applications; the device can work with μManager open-source-microscopy software. The module produces either a free-space or single-fiber output and includes monitoring software to control which lasers are active through the USB interface. The diode lasers can be modulated via TTL for digital on/off and modulation rates up to 180 MHz, as well as through an analog signal for intensity control and modulation rates up to 3 MHz. Likewise, DPSS lasers have inputs for analog and digital modulation up to 2.5 MHz. Contact Phil Crowley at [email protected].
