Re: Scattered light from AOTF

Posted by Nico Stuurman on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Scattered-light-from-AOTF-tp5352866p5353764.html

Hi Matthew,

> The problem is, even when all laser lines are off (or when the AOTF  
> itself is powered-down), there is minimal, but noticable scattered  
> light exiting the AOTF.

How much light is there?  As far as I know, there is always some  
"leak" when using an AOTF, and how much leak there is should be  
specified by the vendor (don't have the specs to ours here, but  
remember it to be somewhere on the order of 10E-6).

Is this really an issue in your system?  In the systems I set up  
(spinning disk, TIRF), this low amount of leak has never been a  
problem, since the emission filter blocks the excitation light  
anyways, and the very low amount of leaking light does not damage the  
sample.

Best,

Nico