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variable beam expander for 2P ~ 1-4x

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Dr Gregory Jefferis

variable beam expander for 2P ~ 1-4x

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Hello,

We're looking for a variable beam expander for a multiphoton setup. We're currently using this 2-5x model from Thor:

http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=3211

and are trying to find a reasonably drop in replacement that starts a 1x and goes up to somewhere around 3x or 5x so that we can be more flexible about objectives.

Would anyone happen to have a recommendation? This zoom range seems surprisingly hard to find. The best I have found so far is this motorised box from Thor

http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=5626

which looks nice but duplicates the power control already on the table and at almost £11K is >10x the price of a manual telescope which is our main requirement!

Many thanks,

Greg.

--
Gregory Jefferis, PhD
Division of Neurobiology
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology,
Hills Road,
Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.

http://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/group-leaders/h-to-m/g-jefferis
http://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?gsxej2
http://flybrain.stanford.edu

Mark Cannell

Re: variable beam expander for 2P ~ 1-4x

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If you _must_ have 1x, get a 2-10x and put in front of it a 2x reversed (i.e. 0.5x)?

Cheers

On 12/03/2012, at 11:04 PM, Dr Gregory Jefferis wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Hello,
>
> We're looking for a variable beam expander for a multiphoton setup. We're currently using this 2-5x model from Thor:
>
> http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=3211
>
> and are trying to find a reasonably drop in replacement that starts a 1x and goes up to somewhere around 3x or 5x so that we can be more flexible about objectives.
>
> Would anyone happen to have a recommendation? This zoom range seems surprisingly hard to find. The best I have found so far is this motorised box from Thor
>
> http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=5626
>
> which looks nice but duplicates the power control already on the table and at almost £11K is >10x the price of a manual telescope which is our main requirement!
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Greg.
>
> --
> Gregory Jefferis, PhD
> Division of Neurobiology
> MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology,
> Hills Road,
> Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
>
> http://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/group-leaders/h-to-m/g-jefferis
> http://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?gsxej2
> http://flybrain.stanford.edu

Guy Cox-2

Re: variable beam expander for 2P ~ 1-4x

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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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*****

Surely putting unnecessary amounts of glass in a 2P system is not a 'good thing'?

Guy

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mark Cannell
Sent: Tuesday, 13 March 2012 8:50 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: variable beam expander for 2P ~ 1-4x

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

If you _must_ have 1x, get a 2-10x and put in front of it a 2x reversed (i.e. 0.5x)?

Cheers

On 12/03/2012, at 11:04 PM, Dr Gregory Jefferis wrote:

Craig Brideau

Re: variable beam expander for 2P ~ 1-4x

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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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*****

You can make reflective expander/reducers using off-axis parabolic lenses,
but these have fixed magnification factors.

Craig

On Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 8:38 AM, Guy Cox <[hidden email]> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> Surely putting unnecessary amounts of glass in a 2P system is not a 'good
> thing'?
>
> Guy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Mark Cannell
> Sent: Tuesday, 13 March 2012 8:50 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: variable beam expander for 2P ~ 1-4x
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> If you _must_ have 1x, get a 2-10x and put in front of it a 2x reversed
> (i.e. 0.5x)?
>
> Cheers
>
>
> On 12/03/2012, at 11:04 PM, Dr Gregory Jefferis wrote:
>
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > *****
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > We're looking for a variable beam expander for a multiphoton setup.
> We're currently using this 2-5x model from Thor:
> >
> > http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=3211
> >
> > and are trying to find a reasonably drop in replacement that starts a 1x
> and goes up to somewhere around 3x or 5x so that we can be more flexible
> about objectives.
> >
> > Would anyone happen to have a recommendation? This zoom range seems
> surprisingly hard to find. The best I have found so far is this motorised
> box from Thor
> >
> > http://www.thorlabs.com/NewGroupPage9.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=5626
> >
> > which looks nice but duplicates the power control already on the table
> and at almost £11K is >10x the price of a manual telescope which is our
> main requirement!
> >
> > Many thanks,
> >
> > Greg.
> >
> > --
> > Gregory Jefferis, PhD
> > Division of Neurobiology
> > MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology,
> > Hills Road,
> > Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
> >
> > http://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/group-leaders/h-to-m/g-jefferis
> > http://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?gsxej2
> > http://flybrain.stanford.edu
>