Changing system from NIR (two-photon) to UV

Posted by G. Esteban Fernandez on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Changing-system-from-NIR-two-photon-to-UV-tp1694402.html

Hello all,

 

On our Zeiss LSM 510 META two-photon system we have a Coherent Chameleon NIR laser that may need major repair.  Coherent has been very good in providing remote technical assistance to us but we're at a point where a service visit is required and we're not under contract.  Since we do more shallow imaging of UV dyes like DAPI on that system that two-photon imaging, we would replace the NIR laser with UV if it is more cost-effective than repairing the NIR.  Zeiss says a switch from NIR to UV would require a major (and pricey) overhaul of the optics.  I don't know what that entails but it is understandable given the huge difference in wavelength.  However, I wonder how badly out of focus or aberrated the UV image would actually be with the optics that are already in place if we put a UV laser in there in place of the NIR; we do have a UV laser dichroic.  Might it be good enough for at least localizing nuclei? (I do know how to do non-confocal UV imaging on the system)  Can people advise on an NIR-to-UV swap of lasers?

 

Thanks,

Esteban

--
G. Esteban Fernandez, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Molecular Cytology Core Facility
University of Missouri
120 Bond Life Sciences Center
Columbia, MO  65211

http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/mcc/

573-882-4895
573-884-9395 fax