01 Jul 2000 : The new POLYCHROME IV
A MULTIWAVELENGTH ILLUMINATION SYSTEM from TILL PHOTONICS GmbH
It is a monochromatising device with an integrated Xe arc light source
The core of our products is the unique and patented Polychrome, the
polychromatic illumination system which delivers monochromatic light
from the UV to the VISIBLE. Any wavelength can be selected via a
galvanometric scanner driven refraction grating within less than
3 ms. The monochromatic light is coupled into the microscope via
a quartz light guide. It fits into an epifluorescence condenser
which is specially designed for the optical and mechanical specifications
of the light guide fibre and the microscope which is used. For maximal
intensity throughput we use an optical design matching the numerical
apertures, focal lengths of the microscope optics and size of the
Xenon arc.
The emission wavelength of the Polychrome is controlled via a DC
voltage or an RS-232 interface for computer control.
The intensity can be controlled in two ways:
(I) via an aperture stop inside the TILL epifluorescence condenser or
(II) by varying the exposure time. The Polychrome can be set to a wavelength of
e.g. 260 nm (-10 V) which is not transmitted to the specimen plane
for optical reasons.
The variable spectral bandwidth option is recommended for measurements
using simultaneously various dyes with very narrow absorption bands.
Please take into account that the intensity of the illumination
is reduced with decreasing bandwidth. Please consider this if you
are working with imaging systems.
We are able to offer customized wavelength ranges on request.
Specifications
- 50 Watt (super high stability) Xenon short arc lamp
- combines high luminous flux density with excellent stability and
- 7 times increased lifetime of the lamp (3000 hours)
- highly stabilized power supply
- wavelength selection via galvanometric scanner
- wavelength range 320 and 680 nm, bandwidth 8-15 nm
- factory calibrated
- rapid wavelength switching between all wavelengths in less than 3 ms
- continuous spectrum
- multiple wavelength protocols
- quartz fibre with UV optimized coupling into all major microscopes
- zoom epifluorescence condenser for variable field of illumination
Control
- analog input +/- 10 V DC
- microprocessor control; serial interface RS-232
Applications
- 2D real-time fluorescence imaging
- photometric measurements, also in combination with electrophysiological experiments