Re: which multiline gas laser should I buy

Posted by Emmanuel Gustin on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/which-multiline-gas-laser-should-I-buy-tp6401184p6401894.html

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Hi Yuval,

We had very good experience with Spectra-Physics Ar and Kr lasers, although I never used an Ar/Kr. In normal use, and if the operators don't mess with the cavity and mirrors, they can run for a long time without more than yearly maintenance. I think our biggest problem has been corrosion of the mechanical parts (for mirror alignment) in relatively high humidity environment.

For any high-powered gas laser, you need a lot of water cooling, and you should think about the cooling circuit. Open-loop circuits are simple but consume a lot of water, and add to the waste outflow of your laboratory -- we once exceeded our environmental permits because of that, and that it is clean water didn't matter. Closed-loop cooling circuits are better in most ways, but if your lab doesn't already have a suitable infrastructure they can be expensive to set up. We also found that flow regulation systems with a poor response time can cause temperature and power fluctuations on the laser. And try to have some link or signal that prevents people from leaving cold water running over a laser that has been switched off, or sooner or later you will find it in the morning with condensation dripping from the laser head and power supply...

Best Regards,

Emmanuel



--
 Emmanuel Gustin,    Tel. [phone],    e-mail: [hidden email]  

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Yuval Ebenstein
Sent: woensdag 25 mei 2011 02:29
To: [hidden email]
Subject: which multiline gas laser should I buy

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
*****

Hello,
I'm looking for a cheaper alternative for a high power solid-state laser
combiner.
I'm thinking of buying an Ar/Kr (which gives almost every excitation
line I can think of) and I can't decide between the Innova 70c-spectrum
from Coherent and the Stabilite 2018-RM from Spectra-physics. They are
quite similar on paper but the spectra one is cheaper. I heard much
about the robustness of the Coherent model.
Anyone has experience with one of these? Anything special I should look for?
Many thanks
Yuval

--
--------------------------------------
Yuval Ebenstein
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA
Young Hall-2002, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569
Ph: [phone]; Fax: [phone]