http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Laser-beam-sharing-via-multi-mode-fibers-tp7584037p7584045.html
laser, the fibre will also cause temporal dispersion of the pulses. This
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> Hello everyone,
>
> In my lab we have two microscope setups in two different rooms
> separated by a hallway between them. One of our microscopes has a
> free-space laser that must remain in place; however, I would like to
> use this laser with the microscope located in the other room while
> maintaining its ability to be used with its current microscope. Both
> microscopes accept free-space beams as inputs for fluorescence
> microscopy in an epi-illumination geometry.
>
> I am considering the following solution: introduce a flipper mirror
> before the fixed laser to allow me to switch between a path that would
> send the beam into its current microscope and another path that would
> couple the beam into a long multi-mode fiber. I would then run the
> fiber above the ceiling panels between the labs and onto the table of
> the other setup, where the output light would be collimated and
> introduced like normal into the other microscope. I do not require a
> single-mode beam for the second microscope. In fact, I am proposing to
> use a multi-mode beam to achieve a better power coupling efficiency
> into the fiber and to prevent burning the fiber cladding by allowing
> for larger focal spot sizes when coupling. I also am not concerned
> about the speckle on the sample since I am averaging over multiple
> speckle patterns during the acquisition of a single frame.
>
> My primary concern is the stability of the input and output couplers.
> The microscopes are used by people with little optics experience and
> this solution must be as easy as possible to switch between the two
> paths. Ideally, the only action required would be to flip the mirror
> up or down (after the initial alignment, of course).
>
> Here are my questions:
> 1. Has anyone tried such an approach with satisfactory results and
> would be willing to comment?
> 2. Would vibration of the fiber significantly affect its propagation
> direction upon leaving the output coupler?
> 3. Would a "standard" flipper mirror or magnetic mount have sufficient
> return accuracy to avoid having to adjust the input coupler alignment
> every time we switched between microscopes?
> 4. Is there another obvious solution I am missing?
>
> Thanks for the responses!
> Kyle
>