Focus on photonics and biomedical optics

Optical microscope system in 3D

Bruker has launched the ContourGT-I 3D optical microscope for R&D, with features and capabilities designed to increase convenience and productivity in applications ranging from ophthalmic instruments and medical device implants to precision machining and semiconductor manufacturing. Optimized to accelerate and simplify measurement setup and feature tracking, the ContourGT-I profiling system incorporates Bruker’s proprietary tip-and-tilt head design and automated functionality, including turret, lenses, and illumination. The system has been designed for maximum vibration stability and robustness. It has a space-efficient footprint and fully integrated air isolation. The subnanometer z-axis resolution, millimeter-scale steps, and new color camera option make the ContourGT-I suitable for benchtop measurement, analysis, and imaging. Bruker Nano Surfaces Division, 3400 East Britannia Drive, Suite 150, Tucson, AZ 85706, http://www.bruker-axs.com

Time-domain terahertz spectroscopy

The TeraFlash system is Toptica’s new tabletop platform for time-domain terahertz spectroscopy. The all-fiber design, based on mature 1.5-µm telecom technology, combines Toptica’s established femtosecond fiber lasers with indium gallium arsenide antennas. Using a highly precise delay stage, the TeraFlash achieves a peak dynamic range of more than 70 dB. Users can choose the “precise scan” or “fast scan” mode. The precise scan mode attains a bandwidth of 4 THz and a resolution better than 10 GHz. The fast scan mode acquires a pulse trace in only 50 ms. Users can arrange the fiber-coupled antenna modules according to each experiment’s requirements. Toptica’s ultrafast laser FemtoFErb 1560 is integrated into the system. The mode-locked fiber oscillator with saturable absorber mirror and polarization-maintaining fibers ensure a robust, alignment-free, hands-off operation. The TeraFlash system is suitable for applications such as high-bandwidth spectroscopy—for example, of explosives or liquid crystals—and industrial process control. Toptica Photonics Inc, 1286 Blossom Drive, Victor, NY 14564, http://www.toptica.com

Optically controlled galvanometer

Aerotech’s Nmark AGV-HP advanced galvanometers use novel optical feedback technology to increase resolution. Both the standard AGV and the higher-performance AGV-HP series scanners can be directly driven by Aerotech’s Nmark CLS (closed loop servo) galvo controller, which offers a full suite of advanced application tools that include position-synchronized output and infinite field of view. The AGV is available with 10-, 14-, and 20-mm apertures with standard F-Theta lens interfaces to provide maximum application flexibility. The AGV can be configured to accommodate 1064-, 532-, and 355-nm wavelengths, with other wavelengths available on request. A variety of focal lengths are standard, and correction files are provided to remove lens distortion effects. Both the AGV and AGV-HP have thermally stable feedback transducers with virtually no gain or offset drift. The Nmark CLS uses advanced interpolation electronics to provide greater than 24 bits of effective resolution. Onboard real-time 2D calibration ensures accurate beam placement over the entire field of view. Aerotech Inc, 101 Zeta Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, http://www.aerotech.com

Real-time optical modulation analyzer

Agilent Technologies has introduced the N4391A, a real-time optical modulation analyzer with a bandwidth of 63 GHz. The new instrument allows researchers to characterize the latest coherent receivers and ultrafast transmitters with a sample rate of 160 GSa/s. The system is capable of real-time sampling on four channels, each with 33-GHz bandwidth, all in a single oscilloscope. The N4391A offers comprehensive tools to analyze and quantify the integrity of a vector-modulated signal for error vector magnitude, quadrature error, and other impairments. The instrument offers measurement and compensation of the in-channel chromatic dispersion and first-order polarization mode dispersion to allow scientists and engineers to analyze the received signals and thus gain insight into the root cause of constellation distortions beyond 32 Gbaud. Agilent Technologies Inc, 5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95051, http://www.home.agilent.com

Smart spectrometer platform

B&W Tek has expanded its Exemplar smart spectrometer platform. The Exemplar product line is suitable for demanding applications such as high-speed reaction kinetics, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, and real-time process monitoring. The company has added two new models that feature a low stray light “unfolded” Czerny–Turner spectrograph to provide good performance, particularly below 400 nm. In addition to the low stray light spectrograph, the Exemplar LS has a very small form factor, making it suitable for integration into compact UV and UV–visible spectrophotometer systems. The Exemplar Plus builds on the advantages of the low stray light spectrograph by increasing the focal length, which decreases the linear dispersion and improves the spectral resolution. B&W Tek Inc, 19 Shea Way, Newark, DE 19713, http://www.bwtek.com

Laser vision correction using OCT

Two new optical coherence tomography (OCT) products—the HD-OCT 5000 and 500 systems and the photo 800 and 600 integrated multimodality OCT and fundus imaging systems—have been added to Carl Zeiss Meditec’s Cirrus OCT family. The Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 features the company’s FastTrac retinal tracking; it enables high-resolution B-scans to be captured in identical locations and provides accurate assessment of change in targeted pathologies. FastTrac compensates for eye motion during scanning. It can optionally be turned on to assist with poor fixators. In one imaging session, users can correlate data from high-density OCT cubes and layer thickness maps with results from color fundus and angiography images without having to move the patient. The Cirrus photo 800 supports advanced disease management by integrating fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, color and fundus autofluorescence imaging, and OCT technology. The Cirrus photo 600 combines nonmydriatic color imaging and OCT with a fundus autofluorescence option. Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc, 5160 Hacienda Drive, Dublin, CA 94568, http://meditec.zeiss.com

Bandpass interference filters

TechSpec hard-coated, 25-nm precision bandpass interference filters from Edmund Optics are suitable for various life sciences and machine vision applications. The filters are designed to serve as a midrange alternative to broadband and narrowband filters. Suitable for single-photon microscopy, the filters prevent photobleaching in delicate live samples and fluorophores. They can be used to eliminate unwanted background noise while simultaneously enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio in imaging and machine vision applications. Hard coated for durability, the filters meet Environmental Standard MIL-STD-810F and Durability Standard MIL-C-48497. A variety of bandpass interference filters are available, with center wavelengths from 400 to 950 nm and with 12.5-, 25-, or 50-mm diameters. Also available are 10- and 50-nm filters. Edmund Optics Inc, 101 East Gloucester Pike, Barrington, NJ 08007-1380, http://www.edmundoptics.com

Optical analysis software

TracePro 7.3, the latest release of Lambda’s illumination and optical analysis software, features a fully automated interactive solar analysis utility and the addition of two geometric modelers to the LC edition. The solar utility enables users to analyze solar collector systems by defining the geographical location, period of Sun travel, and solar power emission to simulate cloudy to clear-day calculations. A complete diagnostic output includes irradiance and candela maps on target surfaces, total flux on the target per time period, and tabular output that details efficiency over time. The new utility significantly reduces analysis time by automating the solar analysis process through easy-to-use dialogs to set up Sun position. Sun location is verified by Google Earth and trajectory by 3D Earth modeling; dialogs are used for output analysis qualification. Lambda Research Corporation, 25 Porter Road, Littleton, MA 01460, http://www.lambdares.com

CCD camera

According to Horiba, its new deep-cooled, open-electrode, 1024 × 256 CCD camera combines performance and versatility for research and OEM applications. With peak UV quantum efficiency at 32% and peak visible and near-IR at 58%, Syncerity offers a relatively flat response. In the near-IR, the detector is an economical alternative to the deep-depletion CCD, with no etaloning. In image mode, the dynamic range of the Syncerity camera is 92.5 dB. The CCD’s tall format is suitable for imaging spectroscopy applications. Its flexible design allows Horiba’s OEM-dedicated team to quickly adapt the camera for industrial requirements ranging from alternate CCD chips to electronics customizations. Horiba Scientific, 3880 Park Avenue, Edison, NJ 08820-3097, http://www.horiba.com/scientific

Topographic Raman imaging microscopes

WITec’s TrueSurface microscopy is now available as an integrated option for the alpha300 microscope series. It enables topographic Raman imaging on large samples for the full range of the company’s instruments. The new imaging mode is also available as an upgrade for previously installed alpha300 and alpha500 systems and, according to WITec, will considerably expand the instruments’ capabilities. The sensor core measurements are based on optical profilometry using the microscope objective turret. The system measures the surface topography of large samples and correlates the topography with confocal Raman microscopy. Thus very rough or heavily inclined samples can be chemically characterized precisely, automatically, and easily while also being confocally imaged. Extensive, time-consuming sample preparation is eliminated. WITec Instruments Corp, 122 McCammon Avenue, Maryville, TN 37804, http://www.witec-instruments.com

Live-cell confocal imaging

Andor Technology has launched its latest spinning disk confocal device, the Revolution WD. The new imager offers spinning disk confocal capabilities to many research fields and brings increased flexibility for imaging live samples. It operates at low- and high-power magnifications and produces confocal images of large and small samples. Because depth and high-contrast imaging can be maintained, the Revolution WD is an appropriate live-cell spinning disk for core facilities with a broad user base. That has potential appeal for biomedical fields such as neuroscience, developmental biology, stem-cell research, embryology, and intravital imaging. Andor Technology USA, 425 Sullivan Avenue, Suite 3, South Windsor, CT 06074, http://www.andor.com

Quartz MgF₂ wave plates

Newport Corp has introduced large-diameter, achromatic zero-order quartz magnesium fluoride wave plates. The family of larger aperture optics consists of two different birefringent crystals—crystalline quartz and MgF₂, each with a broadband antireflection coating—in an air-spaced design. The construction ensures transmitted wavefront quality while minimizing beam deviation and surface reflection losses. The assembly is mounted in a black, anodized aluminum housing for protection, with the retarder fast axis marked as reference for alignment. The large-diameter wave plates feature 23-mm clear apertures and operate in the spectral wavelengths from 610 to 850 nm or from 700 to 1000 nm. Four new models are available, each with half- or quarter-wave retardance. The company claims that the achromatic zero-order quartz MgF₂ wave plates provide a much higher degree of accuracy than regular zero-order quartz wave plates and that they maintain retardation from ±λ/50 to ±λ/100 over the entire bandwidth. Newport Corporation, 1791 Deere Avenue, Irvine, CA 92606, http://www.newport.com

Spectroscopy camera

Princeton Instruments has introduced the PyLoN-IR controller-less, cryogenically cooled CCD camera for spectroscopy. It replaces the OMA V indium gallium arsenide detector linear photodiode array camera. A linear InGaAs photodiode array camera, the PyLoN-IR is designed for quantitative near-IR and short-wavelength IR applications that demand high sensitivity, such as photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy. Liquid nitrogen cooling reduces dark current that results from thermal energy in the CCD, and indium metal seals enhance vacuum longevity. By removing the external controller, the company has increased the PyLoN-IR’s experimental flexibility and improved its ultra-low-noise electronics. Two models are available, both with wide spectral coverage. Model 1024-1.7 is responsive in the UV and visible with high sensitivity from 800 nm to 1.7 µm, while the 1024-2.2 has a spectral range from 1.0 to 2.2 µm. Princeton Instruments, 3660 Quakerbridge Road, Trenton, NJ 08619, http://www.princetoninstruments.com

Sapphire lasers

A new series of sapphire 588 LP (low-power) lasers from Coherent offer orange output, which is suitable for exciting a number of fluorescent dyes used in bioimaging. Specifically, the new models deliver 20, 50, 75, or 100 mW at 588 nm. The sapphire 588 LP lasers offer a diffraction-limited, TEM₀₀ beam with M² of less than 1.1; low beam divergence of less than 1.3 mrad; high pointing stability of less than 5 µrad/°C; power stability of less than 2% over two hours; and low noise of 0.25% rms from 20 Hz to 2 MHz. With a compact laser head measuring 125 × 70 × 34 mm, the lasers provide identical form, fit, and function compatibility—optical, mechanical, electrical, and interfacing—with all other sapphire LP models, independent of wavelength and power class. That simplifies integration, including wavelength addition and substitution, for OEMs and end users alike. As with other sapphire LP lasers, the new 588-nm models are equipped with USB, RS-232, and analog interface ports for ease of installation and operation. Coherent Inc, 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054, http://www.coherent.com

UV crosslinker

Spectronics has introduced a UV crosslinker to identify and analyze trace amounts of DNA and RNA with sensitivity, accuracy, and speed. The Select XLE series UV crosslinker covalently binds nucleic acids to membranes in less than 30 seconds. It features a true-UV-monitoring circuitry that safeguards test results from washouts, even when the tubes age. Researchers can use the instrument for applications such as eliminating polymerase chain reaction contamination, nicking ethidium bromide-stained DNA in agarose gels, mapping genes to create cleavage-inhibiting thymine dimers, screening RecA mutations in Escherichia coli, sterilizing UV, and determining miscellaneous UV dosages. The Select XLE series crosslinker features a “smart” user-friendly, fully programmable microprocessor; built-in “help” messages; and an auto-repeat function. It has five 8-W tubes and is available in 254-, 312-, and 365-nm versions. Spectronics Corporation, 956 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, NY 11590, http://www.spectroline.com