Stories & Features
BrightLine Laser Dichroic Beamsplitters for Super-resolution & TIRF Microscopy
Mar 3, 2016
by
IDEX Health & Science
Laser Dichroic Beamsplitters Just Got Flatter
- λ/5 P-V Reflected Wavefront Error (RWE) on 3 mm
- 1λ P-V Reflected Wavefront Error (RWE) on 1 mm
- Minimal reflected wavefront distortion for large diameter illumination beams
- The steepest edges for higher throughput and signal collection
- Wider reflection bands — into UV for photoactivation and super-resolution techniques
- Wider transmission regions — into IR to 1200 or 1600 nm
Semrock’s industry leading laser dichroic beamsplitters just got flatter. We’re setting a new standard for Super-resolution / TIRF microscopy with λ/5 P-V RWE on our new 3 mm thick dichroics and 1λ P-V RWE on our improved 1 mm dichroics. Each one comes with our Semrock guaranteed steepest edges, short wavelength reflectivity down to 350 nm, and long wavelength transmission optimized out to 1200 nm or 1600 nm.
Super-resolution & TIRF imaging systems are highly sensitive to optical wavefront distortion and demand the highest quality components. In order to address the needs of this market, Semrock has introduced industry leading laser dichroic beamsplitters with λ/5 RWE to minimize the reflected wavefront distortion, thereby maximizing both the signal and the signal-to-noise ratio in super-resolution microscopes.
For setups in which maximizing the switching speed or minimizing the beam shift in transmission is critical, Semrock’s 1 mm thick laser dichroic beamsplitters have been significantly improved to 1λ RWE (~255 m radius of curvature). These industry leading optics are compatible with popular microscopy filter cubes and improve the performance of laser based confocal and TIRF illumination systems. They are also ideal for reflection of imaging beams in conventional structured-illumination techniques as well as patterned illumination systems for localized photo-activation. These dichroic beamsplitters allow the use of much larger diameter illumination beams, offering researchers and instrument developers more flexibility in system design with no compromise to overall performance. For more detailed background and information, please review our Tech Note titled Practical Flatness”.
Flatness/RWE Classification | Example | Nominal Radium of Curvature | Maximum Reflected Beam Diameter, mm | Reflected Wavefront Error at 632.8 nm, PV | Dichroic Family and Example Part Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Super-resolution / TIRF | TIRF, PALM, STORM, STED | ~ 1275 meters | 22.5 | <0.2λ | BrightLine® Laser (Di03-R405-t3-) |
~ 255 meters | 10 | <1λ | BrightLine® Laser (Di03-R405-t1-) | ||
Laser | Confocal, combining/splitting laser beams | ~ 30 meters | 2.5 | <6λ | BrightLine® Laser (Di02-R405-) RazorEdge® (LPDO1-488RU-) LaserMux™ (LM01-503-) |
Semrock Flatness/ RWE Classifications and recommended dichroic family information along with maximum allowable beam diameter values. More detailed information is found in the Semrock Whitepaper[1].
Super-resolution Microscopy Cubes
Filter sets with guaranteed 1λ P-V RWE from cube mounted 1mm thick dichroic beamsplitters are available.
Laser Dichroic Beamsplitters
Reflected Laser Wavelengths | Extended Average Reflection Band (nm) | Absolute Reflection Band (nm) | Average Transmission Band (nm) | 1λ RWE | λ/5 RWE | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
375.0 ± 3 nm 405.0 ± 5 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 372.0 | > 94% 372.0 – 410.0 | > 93% 417.4 – 1200 | Di03-R405-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
440 +3/-1 nm 442.0 nm 457.9 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 439.0 | > 94% 439.0 – 457.9 | > 93% 466.1 – 1200 | Di03-R442-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
457.9 nm 473.0 ± 5 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 457.9 | > 94% 457.9 – 478.0 | > 93% 486.6 – 1200 | Di03-R473-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
473.0 ± 2 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 471.0
| > 94% 471.0 – 491.0 | > 93% 499.8 – 1200 | Di03-R488-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
505.0 nm 514.5 nm 515.0 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 505.0 | > 94% 505.0 – 515.0 | > 93% 524.3 – 1200 | Di03-R514-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
514.5 nm 532.0 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 514.0 | > 94% 514.0 – 532.0 | > 93% 541.6 – 1200 | Di03-R532-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
561.4 nm 568.2 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 554.0 | > 94% 554.0 – 568.2 | > 93% 578.4 – 1200 | Di03-R561-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
593.5 nm 594.0 -0/+.3 nm 594.1 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 593.5 | > 94% 593.5 – 594.3 | > 93% 605.0 – 1200 | Di03-R594-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
632.8 nm 635.0 +7/-3 nm 647.1 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 632.8 | > 94% 632.8 – 641.7 | > 93% 658.8 – 1200 | Di03-R635-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
647.1 nm 658.0 nm 660.0 ± 5 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 647.0 | > 94% 647.1 – 665.0 | > 93% 677 – 1200 | Di03-R660-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
671.0 nm 676.0 nm 685.0 ± 5 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 671.0 | > 94% 671.0 – 690.0 | > 93% 702.5 – 1200 | Di03-R685-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
785.0 ± 5 nm | 350.0 – 780.0
| > 94% 780.0 – 790.0 | > 93% 804.3 – 1600 | Di03-R785-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
473 ± 2 nm, 488 +3/-2 nm 559 +5/-3, 561.4, 568.2 nm | > 90% 350.0 – 471.0 | > 94% 471.0 – 491.0 > 94% 559.0 – 568.2 | > 93% 503.3 – 543 > 93% 582.4 – 1200 | Di03-R488/561-t3-25x36 | In Stock | |
375 ± 3, 405 ± 5 nm 473 +2/-0, 488 +3/-2 nm 532.0 nm 35 +7/-0, 647.1 nm
| > 90% 350.0 – 370.0 | > 94% 370.0 – 410.0 > 94% 473.0 – 491.0 > 94% 530.5 – 533.5 > 94% 632.8 – 641.7 | > 93% 426 – 462 > 93% 502.5 – 518.5 > 93% 550 – 613 > 93% 663 – 1200 | Di03-R405/488/532/635-t3- 25x36 | In Stock | |
375 ± 3, 405 ± 5 nm 473 +2/-0, 488 +3/-2 nm 559 +5/-3, 561.4, 568.2 nm 35 +7/-0, 647.1 nm
| > 90% 350.0 – 370.0 | > 94% 370.0 – 410.0 > 94% 473.0 – 491.0 > 94% 559.0 – 568.2 > 94% 632.8 – 641.7 | > 93% 426 – 462 > 93% 502.5 – 544.5 > 93% 582 – 617.5 > 93% 663 – 1200 | Di03-R405/488/561/635- t3-25x36 | In Stock |
Download the Brightline® Laser Dichroic Beamsplitter Data Sheet