Lasers
We currently support laser control via voltage signals. In the near-future, we will consider implementing laser control via serial communication for power control, but digital modulation will still be controlled via voltage signals. The onoff entry is for digital modulation. The power entry is for analog modulation.
Applied Scientific Instrumentation
Tiger Controller
The Tiger Controller from ASI can also be used to perform analog, digital, and mixed modulation of lasers. Digital modulation is controlled with a TGPLC or TGGALVO control cards, while analog modulation is controlled with a TGGALVO control card.
Configuration File
microscopes:
microscope_name:
lasers:
-
wavelength: 488
onoff:
hardware:
type: ASI
axis: [2-8]
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
power:
hardware:
type: ASI
axis: A
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
-
wavelength: 561
onoff:
hardware:
type: ASI
axis: [2-8]
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
power:
hardware:
type: ASI
axis: B
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
National Instruments
Most lasers are controlled externally via mixed analog and digital modulation. Thus, a NI data acquisition card may be used to control the laser. In general, an analog output can be used to control both the digital and analog modulation of the laser, whereas a digital output can only be used to control the digital modulation of the laser.
Note
Omicron LightHUB Ultra laser launches include both Coherent- and LuxX lasers, which vary according to wavelength. LuxX lasers should be operated in an ACC operating mode with the analog modulation option enabled. The Coherent Obis lasers should be set in the mixed modulation mode.
Note
Coherent Obis lasers should be set in the mixed modulation mode. It is not uncommon for the slew rate from the data acquisition card to be insufficient to drive the modulation of the laser if the laser is set to an analog modulation mode.
Note
Users have reported intermittent connection issues at random intervals arising from USB-based communication instance with Coherent Obis controllers. Specifically, these errors were observed as a conflict over COM port assignments between the Coherent OBIS laser and the ASI Tiger controller. These issues are discussed in depth in the communication challenges section.
Configuration File
microscopes:
microscope_name:
lasers:
-
wavelength: 488
onoff:
hardware:
type: NI
channel: PXI6733/port0/line2
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
power:
hardware:
type: NI
channel: PXI6733/ao0
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
-
wavelength: 561
onoff:
hardware:
type: NI
channel: PXI6733/port0/line3
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
power:
hardware:
type: NI
channel: PXI6733/ao1
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
Synthetic Lasers
Configuration File
microscopes:
microscope_name:
lasers:
-
wavelength: 488
onoff:
hardware:
type: synthetic
channel: PXI6733/port0/line2
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
power:
hardware:
type: synthetic
channel: PXI6733/ao0
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
-
wavelength: 561
onoff:
hardware:
type: synthetic
channel: PXI6733/port0/line3
min: 0.0
max: 5.0
power:
hardware:
type: synthetic
channel: PXI6733/ao1
min: 0.0
max: 5.0