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.

Analog/Digital-Controlled Lasers

Most lasers are controlled externally via mixed analog and digital modulation. The onoff entry is for digital modulation. The power entry is for analog modulation.

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