Coherent has introduced its Sapphire 552 LP - a series of solid-state optically pumped semiconductor lasers (OPSLs) with output at 552nm. The lasers offer continuous wave (CW) output of 50, 75, 100, 150, and 200mW, making them particularly useful for applications in life sciences. The lasers provide a high quality, diffraction-limited beam (TEM00, M²<1.1) with excellent pointing stability (<5µrad/°C), high power stability (<2 per cent) and low noise (<0.25 per cent rms from 20Hz to 2MHz). Sapphire 552 LP lasers come with a compact laser head, measuring 125 x 70 x 34mm, which is identical to all other Sapphire LP lasers, independent of wavelength and power class. As with other Sapphire LP lasers, the new 552nm models are equipped with USB, RS-232 and analogue interface ports for ease of installation and operation.
Sapphire lasers are based on Coherent’s OPSL technology, featuring wavelength scaling which allows the lasers to be produced at nearly any visible wavelength. As such, visible laser output is matched to key applications instead of vice versa. Additionally, OPSLs do not suffer from thermal lensing, meaning that the output power of any Sapphire LP can be smoothly adjusted from 10 to 110 per cent of nominal power with no effect on beam quality.
Sapphire 552 LP lasers are intended for life sciences applications including flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and drug discovery. Because this wavelength is well-separated from established, popular laser wavelengths (e.g. 532nm and 568nm), it is well suited for instrument builders and end users looking to increase the number of fluorophores they can simultaneously detect without crosstalk.