Bio-Flourescence

Bio-fluorescence applications utilise the fluorescence of dyes excited by specific wavelengths of laser light. These dyes are often chosen to highlight specific molecules under investigation and these dyes, whilst quite broad in their absorption curves, do never the less respond preferentially to specific laser wavelengths.

The resultant emissions are measured and information about the molecule from its composition through to its kinetics can be established depending on the actual techniques and instrumentation used.

Techniques include confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and DNA sequencing. This market continues to grow and is constantly driving laser manufacturers to produce lower noise, higher beam quality products for ever decreasing costs.

Typical wavelengths are based on the long history of using Argon ion and Argon Krypton lasers for which the dyes and filters have matured. These large gas lasers are now being displaced by smaller and more cost effective DPSS and diode laser solutions which are now available widely at 488nm, 561nm and 640nm. Additionally many systems still use the popular 532nm laser which has proven to be a good compromise wavelength in the past.

Most of these applications look to employ lasers with low noise signatures and high beam pointing stability, particularly when launched through a single mode fibre. The Scherzo^® and Blue Note^® lasers from KLASTECH^® are good examples of the type of lasers used in these fields.