NicoLase-An open-source diode laser combiner, fiber launch, and sequencing controller for fluorescence microscopy

Philip R Nicovich; James Walsh; Till Böcking; Katharina Gaus

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173879

NicoLase-An open-source diode laser combiner, fiber launch, and sequencing controller for fluorescence microscopy

PLoS One. 2017 Mar 16;12(3):e0173879. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173879. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Philip R Nicovich^{1

2}, James Walsh², Till Böcking^{1

2}, Katharina Gaus^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
² EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Abstract

Modern fluorescence microscopy requires software-controlled illumination sources with high power across a wide range of wavelengths. Diode lasers meet the power requirements and combining multiple units into a single fiber launch expands their capability across the required spectral range. We present the NicoLase, an open-source diode laser combiner, fiber launch, and software sequence controller for fluorescence microscopy and super-resolution microscopy applications. Two configurations are described, giving four or six output wavelengths and one or two single-mode fiber outputs, with all CAD files, machinist drawings, and controller source code openly available.

MeSH terms

Equipment Design
Lasers, Semiconductor*
Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods*
Optics and Photonics
Software*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council; grant numbers LP140100967 (to KG and PRN) and DP130100936 (to TB). Authors also acknowledge funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging (CE140100011 to KG), National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (1059278 and 1037320 to KG; APP1100771 to TB), and the Cancer Institute of New South Wales (2016/REG005 to KG).