Lasers for flow cytometry
Skylark Lasers offers high power, single frequency laser sources with excellent beam quality and spectral purity. With long-term power and wavelength stability, our compact lasers are ideal for multiple flow cytometry applications.
CW C-DPSS single frequency lasers for flow cytometry
Skylark NX lasers provide ultra-narrow linewidths with ultra-stable output to ensure precise and consistent excitation of fluorochromes.
While absorption based applications do not require single frequency performance due to absorption bandwidths typically being much wider than the laser’s emission, single frequency lasers reduce spectral overlap and minimise spillover between channels — enabling the measurement of multiple parameters with high accuracy.
The visible wavelength lasers in our portfolio at 640 and 532 nm allow for reliable cytometry far from the autofluorescence wavelengths — increasing signal-to-noise ratio.
The UV lasers at 320 and 349 nm enable you to image with unique markers within a region with no channel overlap. They are also a cost-effective and practical replacement for traditionally used laser sources in flow cytometry applications.
Each laser has a compact footprint that integrates into existing systems with turnkey operation and no continual maintenance requirements.
Flow cytometry is a technique where a laser source is directed towards a stream of cells/particles. The light that is scattered from the stream, along with any fluorescence signal, can be analysed to determine the particle's properties.
The two basic types are separated into setups which have the stream of particles in air, exiting through a nozzle, or in an optically clear flow cell. The stream can be controlled with pressure to ensure that only a single particle interacts with the laser light at a time and that everything is centered on the beam.
Photodiodes can be used to capture the light that is scattered from the sides, due to reflection and refraction, to gain information about cell granularity and internal complexity. Similarly, front scatter gives refraction information related to cell size. Dyes are also used to obtain fluorescence data.
Typically, multiple lasers are used to interrogate across several channels - and if using traditional gas and ion lasers - this severely limits the free space in your set up and increases your cooling requirements.
High output power
Higher power output increases the signal strength measured, especially for scattering effects.
Ultra-stable performance
Power stability, pointing stability, and low noise operation are crucial, ensuring that changes in the incident power level during the measurement don't cause inaccuracies.
Beam quality
Excellent beam quality ensures consistent and accurate analysis.
Ideal laser specifications for flow cytometry
Flow cytometry applications
Our customers select our ultra-stable and high precision laser sources to support their work across several flow cytometry applications:
Cell sorting
Cell analysis
Nanoparticle analysis
Fluorescence detection
Immunophenotyping