I?m looking to buy a pulsed light for sub-ablation heating, that is
heating in a manner very similar to ablation, but at energies not high
enough to ablate. I plan to use this within a microscope
setup, preferably passing the light beam through the microscope
optics, though if necessary aligning and focusing a beam externally.
I recently came across a system designed specifically for ablation
within microscope systems, described at
http://host.theeditors.com/laserscience/microbeam_system.htm and
http://host.theeditors.com/laserscience/dye_lasers.htm . This uses a
dye laser pumped by a nitrogen laser (nitrogen lasers produce UV light
and may damage standard microscope optics, so are not suitable on
their own). It has sufficient energy (~40 microJ) and is designed to
be fitted to microscopes. However, the Laser Science site (linked from
a few other sources as www.laserscience.com) does not seem to exist
any more, and I do not know if the company does.
I am looking for information on this and other products of a similar
nature, which produce intense pulsed light (not necessarily laser
light) suitable for delivery within a microscope.
The rest of this is details for reference:
The light needs to be pulsed with a pulse length between 0.1 and 10
nanoseconds (this is vital for what I am investigating. It does not
have to be variable, for example a laser with 3ns pulse is just about
perfect). My target is highly reflective above 550nm, so the
illuminating wavelength needs to be below this, and preferably in the
visible (>~400nm) for ease of use. I need a fluence of 0.1 mJ / mm^2
over an area at least 100 microns in diameter. Basically this means a
minimum pulse energy of 1 microjoule and decent beam optics (100
micron focus is an easy spot for most lasers but might be small for
focusing a flashlamp). Higher pulse energies (1-100 microjoules) would
be preferred. I do not need a high repetition rate (would be using
from single shot up to at most 10Hz).
Currently my best bet are systems such as the Continuum Minilite
Nd:YAG (532nm output, 15 milliJ power, approx US $15,000,
http://www.continuumlasers.com/resmainswf.html), or similar lasers
such as the Quantel Brilliant Ultra or a lower powered YAG from eg
Laser Compact ( http://www.laser-compact.ru/products/LCSDTL314QT20_e.shtml
). The former is 10,000 times my minimum power requirement and 100
times my maximum. The latter is from a non-responsive Russian company,
although their distributors will sell and ship from the US to
Australia. Neither of these are designed to be used with microscopes
and the latter is not designed for low rep-rates. Given that the
Minilite has power vastly in excess of my requirements, I would expect
to find cheaper options but, other than the Laser Science reference
above (almost perfect except I do not know the price tag attached and
do not know if it is still in production) have not been able to do so. |
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
16 Jun 2004 18:35 PDT
Whew! Laser Science has gone through many changes the past few years,
the most recent iteration being its sale just three weeks ago to a
company called Newport Corp.
Anyway, it's still doing business as a Newport subsidiary known as
Spectra-Physics. I think the laser unit you are seeking is probably
quite similar to this one:
http://www.spectra-physics.com/com/cda/product/detail/1,1055,116617,00.html
Let me know how closely this matches your needs, and what additional
features would make for the ideal unit, and I'll continue searching
for you.
Thanks.
pafalafa-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
antsypa-ga
on
16 Jun 2004 19:27 PDT
Thanks. That's the same product, although without the extra
attachments designed to fit it to a microscope. It is certainly a
possibility. I have submitted a quote request although such requests
typically take at least a day.
I am interested in similar competing systems, or other laser/light
sources that also fit the 0.1-10ns pulse criteria with at least 1
microjoule of energy and are likely to be cheaper than the US$15,000
Minilite (I do not know whether this will be true for the dual
dye-nitrogen laser setup above, but am hopeful).
I would also appreciate information on methods for coupling laser
light to microscopes (Zeiss Axiomatic 100 and Axioplan 2 if it is
brand specific).
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
17 Jun 2004 15:47 PDT
Hello again antsypa-ga,
Please do let me know what you hear back from Spectra-Physics on the
unit I located for you.
I'm still looking for other options, but there does not appear to be
much off-the-shelf commercial activity in this area. There may be
some custom-tailored options...I'm still checking.
pafalafa-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
antsypa-ga
on
17 Jun 2004 15:59 PDT
Automated response only to date:
"Given possible time zone differences, you may expect to receive a
response within two (2) business days".
Even if the Spectra-Physics price is acceptable, if only to clear
local red tape I will need alternate systems as well.
|
Clarification of Question by
antsypa-ga
on
23 Jun 2004 22:11 PDT
No response from the automated service.
After a phonecall to the US number on the webpage they said Lastek is
the Australian supplier for Spectra-Physics, and refused to give me
the price for US purchasers.
A quote from Lastek just came through at US $13,800 for the DUO-220,
not including dyes or microscope attachment.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
24 Jun 2004 06:43 PDT
Thanks for the update on this. I'll see if I can find an alternative
for you, so I can post a workable answer to your question.
Stay tuned...
paf
|
Clarification of Question by
antsypa-ga
on
24 Jun 2004 18:25 PDT
Further word from Lastek: Although the microscope attachments
(microbeam system) were still in their catalogue, Spectra-Physics
stopped production of these after taking over Laser Science. So this
laser would still need a jury rigged converter - or similar - to use
it in a microscope system.
Word on the cheaper end of the price range: DYE series is about
US$4000 cheaper than the DUOs (for half pulse power)
|
Clarification of Question by
antsypa-ga
on
29 Jun 2004 19:51 PDT
Hi pafalafa,
This is time-limited, and I need to get things sorted soon. Could you
post what you have found so far? If it's not enough for a full answer,
then I am sure we can come to an arrangement.
Thanks
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
29 Jun 2004 19:59 PDT
antsypa-ga,
Sorry to leave you hanging so long on this, but I really haven't found
anything useful beyond what I've already posted.
Unfortunately, I'm leaving town tomorrow for a business trip, and will
not be able to focus on this question until my return on July 2, at
the earliest.
If any other researchers have looked into this question, perhaps they
have some information they can offer. But I will not be able to
provide anything else until at least July 2. And even then, I'm not
sure I'd be able to uncover anything I haven't already come across.
Wish I had a more postive report for you. Let us know what your
deadline is, and perhaps we'll get lucky and find something additional
to suit your needs.
All the best,
pafalafa-ga
|
