Lasers for fluorescence & photoluminescence
Single frequency DPSS lasers are suited to various photoluminescence and fluorescence applications due to their narrow linewidth, wavelength stability, and high quality laser output. These lasers are essential tools for exciting and probing the fluorescent and photoluminescent properties of a wide range of materials and molecules.
CW C-DPSS single frequency lasers for fluorescence & photoluminescence
Our single frequency continuous wave laser sources offer unrivalled wavelength stability and narrow linewidth, resulting in higher spectral and spatial precision for fluorescence imaging. Our visible lasers at 532 and 640 nm as well as our UV lasers at 320 and 349 nm provide high spectral and spatial precision for direct fluorescence imaging of aromatic amino acids and DNA quantitation. Our lasers are designed for integration into fluorescence imaging systems over a range of wavelengths within a small footprint.
Photoluminescence is a general term covering the two light emitting mechanisms of fluorescence and phosphorescence. In the most rigorous sense, fluorescence is the emission of light from an electron excited into one of its singlet states within the material - commonly a very fast emission following excitation - whereas phosphorescence is the emission of light from the triplet state - causing a slower and more delayed emission of light.
These terms are often not used in this specific way and generally fluorescence can be thought of as a fast process of light emission following excitation, often on the nanosecond scale or below, in comparison to the slower phosphorescence, often considered on the microsecond scale or above.
While much photoluminescence is possible with broadband sources, high spectral and spatial precision is required for a wide number of applications, such as confocal microscopy, crystalline defect inspection or dynamic mixtures of fluorochromes and fluorophores.
Many applications make use of fluorescence in conjunction with other measurements, such as Raman, where the ability to use the same excitation source for both techniques’ eases integration and analysis of data. A typical example would be solar cell manufacturing and research, where highly structured surfaces are analyzed using both techniques – fluorescence to examine inherent properties such as carrier lifetime or efficiency, and Raman Microscopy to determine feature homogeneity, for instance.
Single frequency operation
Single-frequency lasers are preferred for applications that require precise and selective excitation. They emit a single, well-defined wavelength, making it easier to match the laser wavelength to the absorption peak of the target fluorophore or luminescent material.
Wavelength precision and stability
The laser's emission wavelength should be precisely controlled and stable over time. Any fluctuations in wavelength can lead to inaccuracies in excitation or emission measurements.
Narrow Linewidth
Ensure that the laser light is monochromatic and well-suited for selectively exciting specific absorption bands of fluorophores or luminescent materials.
Beam quality
High beam quality ensures that the laser light is focused precisely on the sample, minimising scattering and aberrations - crucial for achieving sharp and detailed fluorescence or photoluminescence images.
Ideal laser specifications for fluorescence & photoluminescence
Photoluminescence & fluorescence applications
Our customers select our lasers for their long-term stability and power efficiency to support their work across several PL and fluorescence applications:
Photoluminescence spectroscopy
PL materials characterisation
PL excitation of carbon nanotubes
Fluorescence imaging of aromatic amino acids
DNA quantitation
Single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy
Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)
Photoluminescence lifetime imaging (PLIM)
Fluorescence-based sensing
Biomedical imaging