Installation of the iCyt Lyt-200C (Coherent Sapphire 200 mW) DPSS laser system on the FACSVantage DiVa

We have recently installed a Coherent Sapphire 200 mW diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) laser system on our FACSVantage DiVa cell sorter.  This solid state laser replaces our large water-cooled argon-ion laser, eliminating the need for high-voltage power lines, chilled water and a heat exchanger.  The laser emits 488 nm at a power level from 30 mW up to 200 mW and requires only a normal 100 V 20 amp electrical line and a cooling fan for operation.  The laser package, power supply, cooling fan and software control system were integrated and provided by iCyt Visionary Bioscience.  So far, performance is indistinguishable from the much larger and more maintenance-intensive water-cooled gas laser.

(Below).  The iCyt Lyt-200C DPSS laser.  The Coherent Sapphire 200 mW laser installed on the FACSVantage DiVa (in place of the original water-cooled Coherent I-90C argon-ion laser).  Two laser steering mirrors are mounted in front of the laser to guide the beam into the primary prism optics.

(Below).  Mounting and optical configuration of the DPSS laser.   The ICyt laser package is mounted on an aluminum breadboard, with an optical rail mounted in front of the laser for attachment of the steering mirrors.   Two 10 cm sections of optical rail (somewhat visiblew below the steering mirrors) were used to mount the laser to the FACSVantage optical bench using its existing mounting holes.

(Below).  Power supply and cooling fan.  The ICyt power supply (left photo) runs off a standard 110V 20 amp electrical line.  The laser is cooled with an  integral heat sink and a cooling plenum, through which air is pulled using an external cooling fan (right photo).  Heat generation by the DPSS laser is in fact minimal even without the cooling system.  The laser is controlled with a Java-driven software system operating under Windows 2000 NT.

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