The Genesis CX355 -250 laser from Coherent, Inc. sets a new high-power benchmark for true-CW, ultraviolet, solid-state performance, delivering over 250 mW of TEM00 output. All Genesis CX355 lasers utilize Coherent’s optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL) technology, and are commercial solid-state laser that provide true-CW UV, rather than pulsed or quasi-CW (mode-locked) output. In the Genesis CX355 -250, the inherent advantages of OPSL technology provide the suitable combination of low noise (< 0.5%) and high output power, which enables OEM instruments to achieve high signal to noise characteristics. The Genesis CX355 -250 produces a TEM00 output beam (M2 < 1.2).
The major applications that will benefit from the high power of the Genesis CX355 -250 are in flow cytometry of live-cells, such as egg and fertilized-egg sorting, where the peak power of older, mode-locked lasers poses significant risk of mutagenic damage to the DNA in the sorted cells. In addition, the high power of this laser is suited for use in the latest high-throughput cytometers incorporating two parallel laser interaction cells. The Genesis CX355 -250 is also a source for other fluorescence-based applications, including confocal microscopy, where its short wavelength and low M2 beam provide optimum excitation of Hoechst and Indo dyes. These confocal microscopes often rely on fiber delivery which can be problematic for the high peak power levels of quasi-CW lasers. The Genesis CX355 -250 is expected to find applications in some 3D prototyping applications, i.e., stereolithography.
Coherent, Inc., www.coherent.com
