iChrome FLE

TOPTICA's iChrome FLE is a flexible laser engine that combines up to 7 laser lines in up to two polarization-maintaining single-mode fibers. Power levels reach up to 100 mW per laser line. The flexible setup can be customized to fit the special needs of every customer. The FLE’s standard wavelength range is 405 - 647 nm, while wavelength of up to 785 nm can be integrated on request. Like all iChrome systems, the FLE guarantees a plug & play installation via TOPTICA's proprietary COOL^AC automatic alignment technology.

Systems equipped with two laser fibers benefit from TOPTICA’s fiber-switching technology, which combines fiber switching and fiber splitting in one option. Power hungry applications can benefit from the full power level at the corresponding fiber, while applications like a two light-sheet setup benefits from an exact power balance between both fibers.

Another option available with the iChrome FLE is a separate fiber for up to two wavelength. TOPTICA’s optical design gives room for two lasers to be carried in an extra fiber. This could be special wavelengths, which are designed to run through a separate beam path (for example 405 or 785 nm, which are separately corrected within the microscopes beam path). Another option is to double existing wavelength for simultaneous high-power operation (for example 405 or 488 nm for a separate FRAP input of a microscope).

The iChrome FLE is designed and optimized to suit many different microscopy techniques. Modulation behavior is thoroughly tested and optimized at TOPTICA, to guarantee best performance for scanning applications. With its power level and wavelength range, the unit is also a perfect fit for many non-scanning applications, like light-sheet microscopy (also known as SPIM), TIRF, spinning disk, super-resolution microscopy and many other applications.

COOL^AC gives the laser combiner plug-and-play simplicity. Installation is done with the simple click of a button in the user software. Green wavelength (532, 561 and 594 nm) laser light is generated by TOPTICA´s proprietary FDDL (Frequency Doubled Diode Laser) technology, an all diode approach for these very important wavelengths. Each laser line, including the FDDL’s, are directly modulated up to a frequency of 1 MHz and TOPTICA's "Complete OFF" mechanism guarantees zero photons in the "off"-state. “Complete OFF” also means, that there is absolutely no cross talk between the individual wavelength.