We have compared a sample stained with Lysotracker red ( optimally excited at
568)   on a Zeiss 510 with a HENE 543 (.5mw laser) and an  Argon Krypton laser
in a Leica TSC-SP1. The power measured on a stage with the equivalent 5x lens
was approximately  .3mw with a Zeiss unit and 1.5mw with a Leica unit. There was
sufficient excitation with the Zeiss 510 unit to allow our sample to be
visualized . In fact the power had to be reduced as it saturated the PMT's. The
HENE has the advantage of having less noise than the argon -kypton laser. This
data has made me change my opinion on the necessity of a argon-kypton laser and
it seems that if the system has good optical transmission.  I would definitely
use a HENE laser in preference to a noisy argon-krypton laser.
Bob

Robert M. Zucker, PhD
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
MD 72
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711
Tel: 919-541-1585; fax 919-541-4017
e-mail: [log in to unmask]



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  |       Subject:     Green HeNe laser power          |
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We are contemplating a Zeiss LSM510 and are trying to think through the
laser configuration.  They can only demo Option 1.

Option 1: Argon, Green HeNe, Red HeNe (457, 488, 512, 543, 633)
Option 2: Argon/Krypton, Red HeNe (or Red Diode) (488, 568, 633)
Option 3: Argon, Nd:YAG, Red HeNe (or Red Diode) (488, 532, 633)

Is a 1mW Green HeNe of any use in "typical" sample scenarios ie; not bright
actin or tonnes of GFP?  Is the 568 line of an Argon Krypton more useful
(power vs wavelength)?  What about a diode pumped Nd:YAG 20mW @ 532nm?

Any comments welcome.

- Derek Schulze

Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy Core Facility
Cancer Research Labs
353 Botterell Hall
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 3N6
Canada

http://meds.queensu.ca/medicine/crl/