Laser Sources for Nonlinear Microscopy
LIGHT CONVERSION product portfolio with recently released microscopy-dedicated femtosecond laser sources, CRONUS-2P and CRONUS-3P, covers applications in functional neuroimaging, optogenetics, and deep imaging using medium-repetition-rate three-photon excitation and fast high‑repetition-rate two-photon imaging, as well as widefield and holographic excitation using high-power laser sources. See the CRONUS series comparison table below, while the complete list of laser sources for nonlinear microscopy and examples of the state-of-the-art applications are available in our latest brochure.
CRONUS Comparison Table
| Product | Outputs | Output power | Repetition rate | Pulse duration | Power stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
680 – 960 nm, 960 – 1300 nm, and 1025 nm 1) |
> 3 W @ 920 nm > 2.5 W @ 1025 nm > 2.5 W @ 1100 nm |
77 ± 1 MHz | < 160 fs | < 1% 5) |
 |
1250 – 1800 nm 2) 3) | > 1.1 W @ 1300 nm 4) > 0.8 W @ 1700 nm 4) |
Up to 2 MHz | < 50 fs @ 1300 nm < 65 fs @ 1700 nm |
- Up to three simultaneous and synchronized outputs for multibeam excitation. For fixed-wavelength 1040 nm laser refer to FLINT.
- For dual output refer to ORPHEUS-TWINS in ORPHEUS-F configuration.
- Alternative configuration with additional 920 nm output is available, contact sales@lightcon.com.
- At 1 MHz repetition rate. Lower repetition rate and higher pulse energy options available.
- Expressed as NRMSD (normalized root mean squared deviation).
- High pulse energy for deep imaging
- 1250 – 1800 nm tuning range for 3P imaging
- Down to 50 fs pulse duration for high peak power
- Automated wavelength and GDD control for optimal signal
- Market-leading pulse-to-pulse energy stability
- Watt-level output at high repetition rate for fast imaging
- Two tunable and one fixed output for simultaneous multibeam excitation
- Automated GDD control for shortest pulses at the sample
- Industrial-grade design for high power and beam stability
- 11, 20, 40, or 76 MHz repetition rate
- Down to 50 fs pulse duration
- High-power models, up to 20 W
- High-energy energy models, up to 0.6 µJ
- Industrial-grade design for high output stability
- CEP stabilization or repetition rate locking
- Tunable pulse duration, 100 fs – 20 ps
- Maximum pulse energy of up to 4 mJ
- Down to < 100 fs right at the output
- Pulse-on-demand and BiBurst for pulse control
- Up to 5th harmonic or tunable extensions
- CEP stabilization or repetition rate locking
- Thermally-stabilized and sealed design
- Wavelength tunability in an industrial design
- Single-box solution
- Tunable or fixed-wavelength models
- Plug-and-play installation and robust performance
- The most compact OPA in the market
- Combination of best collinear and non-collinear OPA features
- Ultrashort pulses in NIR (650 – 900 nm and 1200 – 2500 nm)
- Single-shot – 2 MHz repetition rate
- < 100 fs pulse duration
- Adjustable spectral bandwidth
- Optional long pulse mode for gap-free tunability
- Two simultaneous independently tunable outputs
- 210 – 16000 nm tuning range
- Single-shot – 2 MHz repetition rate
- Up to 60 W, 0.5 mJ pump
- Compact and cost-effective
- CEP-stable option
- Tunable pulse duration, 190 fs – 20 ps
- Maximum output of 80 W and 2 mJ
- Single-shot – 2 MHz repetition rate
- Pulse-on-demand and BiBurst for pulse control
- Up to 5th harmonic or tunable extensions
- Air-cooled model
- Compact industrial-grade design
3P microscopy with adaptive optics for focus sensing and shaping to compensate for both aberrations and scattering. ORPHEUS-F excitation at 1300 nm enabled imaging up to 1.1 mm below the pia within the intact brain.
Courtesy of Jianan Y. Qu group, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Source: Zh. Qin et al., Deep three-photon imaging of the brain in intact adult zebrafish, Nature Biotechnology 40 (2022).
Courtesy of Jianan Y. Qu group, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Source: Zh. Qin et al., Deep three-photon imaging of the brain in intact adult zebrafish, Nature Biotechnology 40 (2022).
Large-area widefield polarization-resolved SHG microscopy of human lung tissue tumor margin using the PHAROS laser. Image parameters such as SHG intensity, R-ratio, and degree of circular polarization, as well as SHG circular and linear dichroism, are used in unsupervised machine learning to determine the tumor boundary.
Courtesy of Virginijus Barzda group, University of Toronto, and Brian C. Wilson group, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Source: Mirsanaye et al., Unsupervised determination of lung tumor margin with widefield polarimetric second-harmonic generation microscopy, Scientific Reports 12 (2022).
Courtesy of Virginijus Barzda group, University of Toronto, and Brian C. Wilson group, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Source: Mirsanaye et al., Unsupervised determination of lung tumor margin with widefield polarimetric second-harmonic generation microscopy, Scientific Reports 12 (2022).
Holographic 2P optogenetic stimulation of mouse olfactory bulb neurons using laser system with PHAROS femtosecond laser.
Courtesy of Shy Shoham and Dmitry Rinberg groups, New York University. Source: J. V. Gill et al., Precise holographic manipulation of olfactory circuits reveals coding features determining perceptual detection, Neuron 108 (2020).
Courtesy of Shy Shoham and Dmitry Rinberg groups, New York University. Source: J. V. Gill et al., Precise holographic manipulation of olfactory circuits reveals coding features determining perceptual detection, Neuron 108 (2020).
Widefield SHG neuroimaging of neuronal membrane potentials and ion efflux by means of water using PHAROS femtosecond laser.
Courtesy of Sylvie Roke group, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Source: M. E. P. Didier et al., Membrane water for probing neuronal membrane potentials and ionic fluxes at the single cell level, Nature Communications 9 (2018).
Courtesy of Sylvie Roke group, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Source: M. E. P. Didier et al., Membrane water for probing neuronal membrane potentials and ionic fluxes at the single cell level, Nature Communications 9 (2018).
2P optogenetic stimulation of individual neurons using CRONUS-2P.
Courtesy of Albert Stroh group, University Medical Center Mainz and Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research. Source: T. Fu et al., Exploring two-photon optogenetics beyond 1100 nm for specific and effective all-optical physiology, iScience 24 (2021).
Courtesy of Albert Stroh group, University Medical Center Mainz and Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research. Source: T. Fu et al., Exploring two-photon optogenetics beyond 1100 nm for specific and effective all-optical physiology, iScience 24 (2021).
Label-free in vivo widefield SHG imaging of fruit fly larva using PHAROS femtosecond laser.
Courtesy of Virgis Barzda group, University of Toronto.
Courtesy of Virgis Barzda group, University of Toronto.
SHG and THG images of H&E-stained colon using FLINT femtosecond oscillator.
Courtesy of Virgis Barzda group, Vilnius University.
Courtesy of Virgis Barzda group, Vilnius University.
Functional three-photon neuroimaging of zebrafish using OEM OPA in ORPHEUS-F configuration.
Courtesy of Chris Xu and Joe Fetcho groups, Cornell University. Source: D. M. Chow et al., Deep three-photon imaging of the brain in intact adult zebrafish, Nature Methods 17 (2020).
Courtesy of Chris Xu and Joe Fetcho groups, Cornell University. Source: D. M. Chow et al., Deep three-photon imaging of the brain in intact adult zebrafish, Nature Methods 17 (2020).