Lambda 721
Optical Beam Combining System
The Lambda 721 is a new concept for combining up to 7 separate LED cubes with different spectra into a single common output beam. The LED cubes contain the LED, collimating optics, and a filter. These LED cubes are easily exchanged and installed with no tools required. Each LED cube is collimated before entering the optical path through the bandpass filter. The filters for each LED cube also function as mirrors that reflect the collimated beams from the previous light sources. In the diagram below the optical paths are outlined for each position including the reflections that occur:
Optical path for each light source position from 0 through 7
Traditionally, combining more than two light sources required the use of a dichroic ladder. Dichroic mirrors, which switch from transmission to reflection at one point in the spectrum, allow the combining of separate light sources, provided that those sources do not have overlapping wavelengths. The downside of this approach is that light sources cannot be easily changed.
Dichroic ladders also demand careful attention to the order in which the light sources are introduced into the optical path to avoid having the light blocked by the next dichroic in line. Typically, additional bandpass filters must be added in front of each light source before the dichroic, to select the desired range of wavelengths for each source. Each filter and dichroic used in the ladder decreases the total light output of the system.
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FEATURES
- Easy to change the spectral output of the light source
- Any LED cube can be placed in any of 7 positions without concern for the order
- Wavelength selection and beam reflection using Semrock® STR Filters
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COMMON APPLICATIONS
- Fluorescent microscopy
- Calcium imaging
- FURA
- Optogenetics
- High speed wavelength selection
The Lambda 721 was designed to keep the size of the beam combiner small and the optical path short and efficient. Thin-film bandpass filters, such as Semrock’s STR, reflect greater than 90% of out-of-band light. If the band pass of each light source does not overlap, it is possible to use the filters for both attenuation and reflection of the light from the other sources. By arranging the filters and sources into a double pentagon, we were able to combine seven light sources in a compact design with lower losses than previously achievable. As an added benefit, the last position in the optical train does not require any filter since no other input reflects from that position. This position can be used with LED’s that have broad spectral output, such as the 561nm LED, and may allow the excitation of more than single channel of fluorescence from a single LED. (raw spectra available upon request)
- Notes:
- The light from position #1 goes directly to the device output without being reflected. This position might be preferred for the source with the greatest desired output.
- The filter for the seventh light source is not used as a reflective surface and could be used with LED cubes with broader outputs.
- In configurations with fewer than 7 light sources, sources should be filled from lowest to highest number of reflections to ensure the greatest light output.
- This filter is installed at 18° angle-of-incidence to the collimated beam of the LED cube. This will cause a small shift in the band pass toward shorter wavelengths. While it would be ideal to have a coating optimized for this application, we have found that stock -STR filters can be used if you correct for the shift in the band pass when selecting the filters.
- The Lambda optical beam combiner is designed for flexibility and expandability. Should your illumination need change over time a simple configuration change and possibly additional filters can produce an entirely different output.
Lambda 721 - LED Spectra Options (Click on image to enlarge)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Output Range
(330 nm - 960 nm) Depending on the LED's selected for use
Shuttering
Turn ON/OFF time: <4 µs
Noise/Short term stability
0.01%
LED Life
>50,000 hours
Control Box Dimensions
7 in x 19 in x 10.5 in | 17.7 cm x 48.25 cm x 26.5 cm
Weight
23 lbs | 10.43 kg
Electrical
120/240 Volts
50/60 Hertz power line
RoHS Compliant
Lambda 721 CE Certificate
US Prices > Lambda 721
International prices vary by country. Please contact your local distributor or Sutter Instrument for a quotation. Prices subject to change without notice.
Includes Lambda 721 with liquid light guide, cables, and power cord. The instrument accepts up to 7 LED cubes
(listed below) and can easily be reconfigured. The LED cube consist of the LED, collimating optics and the appropriate
Semrock®-STR excitation filter for the output of the LED.
Collimatiang adapters for Nikon, Zeiss, Leica and Olympus microscopes are available. Please see the Microscope Adapters Page or contact Sutter Instrument for pricing and further information.
| Catalog Number | Description | Price |
| LB-721 | Lambda 721 Optical Beam Combiner and controller with 3mm Liquid Light Guide (Please order filter cubes separately) | $ 10,091 |
|---|---|---|
| LB-721-SMA | Lambda 721 Optical Beam Combiner and controller with SMA fiber (Please order filter cubes separately) | $ 10,091 |
LED cubes for Lambda 721
| Catalog Number | Description | Price |
| 721CUBE-340 | LED cube with optics and filter, 340 nm | $ 1,478 |
|---|---|---|
| 721CUBE-365 | LED cube with optics and filter, 365 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-385 | LED cube with optics and filter, 385 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-405 | LED cube with optics and filter, 405 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-410 | LED cube with optics and filter, 410 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-420 | LED cube with optics and filter, 420 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-440 | LED cube with optics and filter, 440 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-460 | LED cube with optics and filter, 460 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-480 | LED cube with optics and filter, 480 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-480NB | LED cube with optics and NARROW BAND filter, 480 nm | $ 1,433 |
| 721CUBE-506 | LED cube with optics and filter, 506 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-506NB | LED cube with optics and NARROW BAND filter, 506nm | $ 1,391 |
| 721CUBE-530 | LED cube with optics and filter, 530 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-561 | LED cube with optics and filter, 561 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-590 | LED cube with optics and filter, 590 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-617 | LED cube with optics and filter, 617 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-630 | LED cube with optics and filter, 630 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-660 | LED cube with optics and filter, 660 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-740 | LED cube with optics and filter, 740 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-780 | LED cube with optics and filter, 780 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-850 | LED cube with optics and filter, 850 nm | $ 1,478 |
| 721CUBE-940 | LED cube with optics and filter, 940nm | $ 1,478 |
RELATED PRODUCTS
Lambda HPX-L5
Lambda 10-2
Lambda 10-3
DEMONSTRATION VIDEOS
Lambda 721 Video
USER MANUAL
Lambda 721 Quick Reference
Lambda 721 External Control Quick Reference
Lambda 721 Operation Manual
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Replacing a Lambda DG-4 with the Lambda 721 (Whitepaper)
Download Sales Flyer
Lambda 721 Spectra Options
List of Semrock STR filters used in the Lambda 721