
Coherent, Inc. has released a dual-wavelength laser that combines a wide tuning range, high power and short pulse width to enable fluorescence detection techniques in non-linear microscopy.
The primary output of this new laser, the Chameleon Discovery, is continuously tuneable from 680 nanometres (nm) to 1300nm, with short pulse width of 100 femtoseconds (fs) and power up to 1.4 watts (W), while providing 1.5W of output at 1040nm. Moreover, an internal and fully automated Group Velocity Dispersion (GVD) pre-compensator enables a short pulse width at the sample.
The wide tuning range, high power and short pulses of the primary output is suitable for excitation of all popular fluorophores (inclusive of eGFP, YFP and all the red-shifted proteins). Just as important, Chameleon Discovery’s secondary output at 1040nm provides high power, short pulses (160fs) and good beam parameters, enabling simultaneous, multi-wavelength excitation of multiple probes and photo activation of opsins for optogenetics applications.
These applications include optogenetic experiments based on established schemes using longer wavelength opsins, such as C1V1, as well as alternative wavelength pairings based on red-shifted calcium indicators of the GCaMP family currently under development. The availability of dual-wavelength pulses that are phase-correlated makes Chameleon Discovery also a suitable source for techniques such as CARS and SRS.