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Nitrogen pumped dye lasers cover the spectral range from 360 nm to 950 nm. We offer both fixed frequency and tunable models. In this dye laser system, the dye solution is optically pumped with a nitrogen laser and produces pulsed visible laser light. Exchanging dye cuvettes alters the dye laser output wavelength. Our system enables the researcher to easily and inexpensively produce laser light over a broad spectral range. Spectra-Physics offers the DUO series dye lasers for the research oriented VSL-337ND-S nitrogen laser and the DYE series for the ultra compact VSL-337 nitrogen laser. Based on our history with dye lasers, the new DUO and DYE series lasers offer greater flexibility, improved performance, and increased ease of use. |
Unique DUO Flexibility |
The DUO series dye lasers have dual beam exit ports and incorporate a six-position beam selector wheel which holds standard 1-inch optical components. One wheel position is equipped with a mirror. The nitrogen laser beam passes through an empty position in the selector wheel and into the dye cavity resulting in dye laser output. When the mirror is selected, the unaltered nitrogen beam exits the other port. With a customer supplied beamsplitter, dye and nitrogen laser beams are simultaneously output through the two ports. This is important for experiments where it is critical to obtain a simultaneous sample and background reading. Additional wheel positions may be filled with neutral density filters for selective attenuation of the visible output or other optical components for flexible experimental set-ups. |
Performance |
The dye laser systems provide 4 nsec pulses in the spectral range of 360 nm to 950 nm. Dye laser peak power depends on which dye is used, but typical peak powers are on the order of 20 kW for the DUO series and 10 kW for the DYE series. Similarly, typical average powers are 1.5 mW for the DUO series and 0.7 mW for the DYE series. The pulse repetition rate may be varied from 1 to 30 Hz for the DUO series and from 1 to 20 Hz for the DYE series. The precision of our nitrogen laser pulses translates to dye laser output with constant pulse shape and good pulse to pulse energy stability.
The DUO series of dye lasers was designed to accommodate the higher pump energy of the VSL-337ND-S nitrogen laser. For these systems, the dye solution is stirred to prolong dye life and to improve output beam stability and energy. |
Turnkey Operation |
The dye laser couples directly to the nitrogen laser output port. A dye cuvette is supplied with every dye laser and a stirring bar is included with each DUO dye laser.
We provide a variety of dyes to cover the spectral range of 360 nm to 950 nm. The tuning curves for a representative selection of dyes are shown in the plot below. The cuvette holder in the dye laser is precisely engineered so that cuvettes can be reproducibly exchanged with no realignment required. To access different spectral regions, the user simply changes dye cuvettes. The important point is that the researcher is provided with visible laser light without the mess and bother of flowing dye solutions or tedious alignment.
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The Different Dye Lasers |
For visible light, we offer dye lasers with a 2400 line per mm grating tunable in the Littrow configuration. These dye lasers are tuned with direct wavelength readout from a micrometer. Laser Science, Inc. guarantees resolution accuracy to within 1 nm of the micrometer reading. These dye lasers are ideal for tuning to specific wavelengths, frequency doubling, and LIF (laser induced fluorescence). The DUO-220 for the VSL-337ND-S nitrogen laser and the DYE-120 for the VSL-337 nitrogen laser cover a range of 360 nm to 700 nm with an output bandwidth of 0.3 nm.
In order to access the infrared, a 1200 lines per mm grating version provides tunability over the range of 600 nm to 950 nm. With this grating, we guarantee resolution accuracy to within 2 nm. The DUO-221 and the DYE-121 provide an output bandwidth of 0.6 nm.
Some researchers are mainly interested in a single wavelength. The more economical DUO-210 and DYE-110 feature a mirror-to-mirror configuration for fixed output with a spectral bandwidth of 3 nm to 10 nm. Exchanging the dye cuvette varies the output wavelength. |
NOTE: The DUO dye lasers can output the dye or the nitrogen beam. For nitrogen laser specifications, refer to the VSL-337ND-S Nitrogen Laser page. Dual dye and nitrogen output requires a customer supplied beamsplitter. Due to our corporate policy of continuous improvment, specifications are subject to change without notice.
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Applications |
Fluorescence microscopy- Fluorescence immunoassay
- Ablation
- Spectroscopy
- Materials processing
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