Optoscan monochromator - The epi-illumination device of choice

The Optoscan monochromator is the epi-illumination device of choice for researchers requiring speed and flexibility. It is still the only instrument of its type to offer real-time (<2msec) control of wavelength and bandwidth.

Although most of the core elements of the design have remained unchanged, we have recently refined it further to improve the usability, price and performance. Most obviously we have introduced a model with a holographic 2000 lines/mm diffraction grating which gives greater throughput and lower scatter when selecting relatively narrow bandwidths. This particular grating is optimised for GFP wavelengths, but also has excellent performance for ultraviolet probes such as Fura 2, and longer wavelength markers like Rhodamine. If used in conjunction with a our mercury or mercury / xenon Optoscource light source it is particularly suitable for FRET work as it combines fast (<2msec) switching speed with a useful spectral peak at 436nm, which is ideal for CFP excitation. On the control side we have added a USB interface which is now implemented in several software environments. This reduces cost, by preventing the need to fit a Digital-to-Analogue Control (DAC) card into the host computer, and enables the monochromator to autoconfigure.