Lastek: Photonics Technology Solutions

The Becker and Hickl  DCS-120 MACRO detects tumors in mice via FLIM of endogenous NAD(P)H. NAD(P)H exists in a bound and a free form. The free-to-bound ratio changes with the metabolic state. Since bound and free NAD(P)H have different fluorescence lifetimes a shift in the metabolic state results in a change in the decay profile. A shift to glycolysis yields a larger amplitude of the fast decay component and a shorter mean lifetime, a shift to oxydative a smaller amplitude of the fast component and a longer mean lifetime. To detect NAD(P)H images, the imaging system uses confocal scanning in combination with ps diode laser excitation and bh's multi-dimensional TCSPC process. The object is placed directly in the image plane of the scanner. The system has inputs for two lasers, and two fully parallel detection channels. For NAD(P)H FLIM, a 375 nm picosecond diode laser is used for excitation. The emission is detected through a 440 to 475 nm bandpass filter. The system can be extended for simultaneous detection of FAD. In that case, a 405 nm laser is used in the second laser channel, and multiplexed with the 375 nm laser. FAD data are recorded in the second detection channel.

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The modular concept of LaVision’sFlowMaster Underwater PIV systems allows a large variety of PIV imaging configurations for uncompromised performance. 2D-, Stereo- and Tomo-PIV measurements are realized using torpedo designs or compact vertical borescope setups. The submarine housings consist of high quality stainless steel tube components containing the remotely controlled PIV camera(s) and sheet optics. Hydrofoils cover the stiff vertical support tubes for minimum drag and wake. The laser and electronic components are accommodated in watertight housings mounted on the carriage above water level. The whole construction is CFD optimized and carefully tested up to a maximum towing speed of 7 m/s at a water depth of 1.5 m.

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New Corona™ fiber lasers™ fiber lasers from nLIGHT® feature programmable beam quality enabled by groundbreaking all-fiber technology. Rapid tuning of the fiber laser spot size optimizes machine tool performance across all metals and thicknesses. Corona enables the development of highly versatile machine tools so job shops and factories can truly "have it all". No longer must they choose between purchasing multiple tools, accepting compromised performance from existing tools, or using complex, expensive, and fragile free-space optical technologies.

With one Corona laser, users can rapidly select from high-intensity, small-spot-size beams to large, donut-shaped beams, and everything in between. This dramatic advance allows optimal thick and thin metal cutting, higher cutting speed and quality, and improved piercing and small-feature processing with the same tool. The unmatched performance and flexibility of Corona fiber lasers also negate the need for post processing, enabling factory automation and “lights out” operation. End users get the best of all worlds—the speed of high-power fiber lasers for thin metal processing, the quality of CO2 lasers for thick metal processing, and the high uptime and low operating costs of a fiber laser solution. 

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Clark-MXR would like to congratulate this year's Physics Nobel laureates, Professors Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland for their invention of Chirped pulse amplification and Professor Arthur Ashkin for optical tweezers.

For Clark-MXR, this is a joyous occasion as Prof. Gerard Mourou is one of our co-founders and our CPA-Series laser, first introduced in 1992, is named after the Chirped Pulse Amplification technique for which Professors Gerard Mourou and Donna Strickland have been honoured.

We congratulate all three recipients of the Physics Nobel prize and especially our co-founder, Prof. Gerard Mourou.

The M² value of a DPSS continuous wave laser has always been important in applications including optical trapping and Raman spectroscopy. In optical trapping, an M² value close to unity enables a high degree of position predictability and repeatability, whilst in Raman spectroscopy, it ensures a tightly focussed beam. In both applications, the data gathered is greatly improved from a laser with low M² value. Laser Quantum, on its continuous improvement programme, has reduced the M² value for its opus 1064, a laser commonly used in optical trapping, to <1.15. The opus 1064 offers up to 10 W of power and exceptional pointing and power stability. The reduction in the M² value has not compromised any of the specifications and serves to improve Laser Quantum’s offering to its customers.