Previously 488 nm excitation was obtained solely by Argon gas lasers, frequency doubled solid state lasers or optically pumped semiconductor lasers. All of these sources are based on rather sophisticated setups and hence express one or more inherent drawbacks such as extensive power requirements and / or heat generation, being bulky, complex optical setup, the need of expensive external modulation (AOMs, AOTFs etc.). The iBeam / iPulse laser system is based on a high quality single-mode laser diode directly lasing at 488 nm, hence benefiting from a monolithic design and lack of free space resonators. The straightforward design, combined with great industrial-fit laser parameters, made diode laser technology extremely successful in the world of photonics.

Key specifications of iBeam / iPulse 488 include:

• Excellent beam quality, i.e. wave front error < 0.05 ?, M² < 1.2
• Lowest intensity noise at 488 nm available (< 0,2%)
• Direct modulation capability avoids power killers like AOM/EOMs
• Ultrafast asynchronous pulse modulation up to 250 MHz (iPulse)
• Highest single-mode fiber coupling efficiencies, i.e. > 60 % guaranteed, > 75 % typical and 87 % demonstrated
• Highest power stability (< 0.5 % drift within 48 hours) 

With already 20mW of direct diode laser power at 488 nm available and a clear roadmap leading to even higher power levels, the iBeam / iPulse represents a favorable choice for many demanding industrial applications.
The beam diameter is approx. 1.2 mm 1/e², close to its gas or solid state laser counterparts, making switching to an iBeam / iPulse a smooth process. Comparing such diode lasers to gas or solid state lasers, the vital benefit is its direct modulation capability. The iPulse 488 offers both fast digital and analog modulation. Thus external AOMs or similar devices become redundant. On special request, the iPulse switches between 3 power levels within few nanoseconds. Typical warm-up time lasts no longer than 5 minutes, significantly less than common Argon lasers require.

To support demanding applications, high attention is paid to best optical performance. High quality optics components and cutting-edge microoptical adjustment devices contribute to convert the diode’s standard elliptical emission into a circular (ellipticity typically < 5 %), nearly perfect Gaussian beam.

All lasers can be optionally coupled to single-mode fibers by TOPTICA’s OEM proven FiberDock unit. Due to the patented flexure mount unit, easy adjustment, best long-term stability and highest coupling efficiencies are achieved.

Besides perfect optical performance, a superior electrical control is crucial in many applications: Sophisticated low noise electronics guarantees an unmatched power drift of less than 0.5 % over at least 48 hours, making the iBeam / iPulse best in class.
Easy and reliable control of all laser parameters and status reports are achieved by the RS 232 serial interface and a standard terminal software package (e.g. WindowsHyperTerminal®).

Typical applications for the iBeam and iPulse series include:

• Flow cytometry
• Confocal microscopy
• Micro lithography
• Computer-to-plate
• Disc mastering
• Ellipsometry
• Retina scanning
• Fluorescin angiography