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Dear List,

Not long time ago we've purchased a 2 photon system from different 
sources:  Mai Tai laser from Spectra Physics, FV 300 from Olympus, 
manipulators and stage set from Luigs & Neumann and optical table from 
Newport.
Obviously, as our laser and confocal control units are not directly coupled 
we can't shutter and attenuate the light beam using Olympus software. 
Additionally, lasers' shutter and intensity control are not really built 
for such fast adjustments as needed during recordings.
I think, typical solution for the beam shuttering and attenuation problem 
is either acousto-optical modulator (AOM) or electro-optical modulator (so 
called Pockle cell).  People say, that disadvantage of AOM is some 
significant elongation of laser light pulses and Pockle cell produces high 
voltage fluctuations which may disturb electrophysiology and proper work of 
a sensitive amplifier.

So, I would be really thankful if those of you who faced similar 
difficulties and solved them in some way could share their experience.

Sincerely,
Ediard Korkotian,  Ph.D,
Neurobiology, The Weizmann Institute,  Rehovot, Israel.