http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Alignment-helper-laser-pointer-objective-tp7280927p7300795.html
Thanks all who replied. It appears I will need to go for a fiber-based
> I am usually taking a single mode fiber, couple the laser in, use a
> small focal length lens (f40) to collimate the output, fix it all with
> optomechanics and there you go. I recently bought a small 80mW 808nm
> laser diode for $20 and used it to align a two-photon system. be
> aware,
> if you have a cavity, such as a Ti:SAP laser, this will not guarantee
> proper alignment. best is to have your laser output through a fiber
> which you then use to couple your backward laser in (check the end of
> that fiber for light going through). unfortunately, there is no
> broadband (i.e 720-950nm) low GVD fiber on the market for two-photon
> systems (please prove me wrong!)
> that should give you pretty good results.
>
> Good luck,
> Philipp
>
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>> Dear list,
>>
>> I have heard about these nifty little tools several times in the
>> past,
>> but have been unable to find one at any of the usual sources: a laser
>> pointer with an objective threading that is aligned with the optical
>> axis of the objective. The result is an retrograde laser beam, making
>> alignment of a new laser a piece of cake (or so I hope).
>>
>> Does anyone have a suggestion of where I might find one of these?
>>
>> Cheers, Christian