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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Knowledge in Far-From-Equilibrium Materials Through Light-Sheet Microscopy

Author Spotlight: Advancing Knowledge in Far-From-Equilibrium Materials Through Light-Sheet Microscopy

Published on: January 26, 2024

Cost-efficient open source laser engine for microscopy.

Daniel Schröder^1,2, Joran Deschamps¹, Anindita Dasgupta¹

¹EMBL, Cell Biology and Biophysics, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.

Biomedical Optics Express

|March 25, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed an affordable, open-source laser engine for microscopy. This cost-effective solution utilizes laser diodes and fiber optics, making advanced imaging accessible to more labs.

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Area of Science:

Optical microscopy
Biophysics
Instrumentation engineering

Background:

Scientific-grade lasers are essential but expensive components in advanced microscopy techniques.
High-power lasers, particularly for applications like single-molecule localization microscopy, present a significant cost barrier for many research institutions.

Purpose of the Study:

To design and present an open-source, high-power laser engine that significantly reduces the cost of microscopy instrumentation.
To provide a practical and reproducible solution for researchers needing powerful laser sources for demanding imaging applications.

Main Methods:

Utilized affordable, high-power laser diodes (405 nm, 488 nm, 638 nm) and an optional 561 nm diode-pumped solid-state laser.
Employed an agitated multimode fiber for light delivery to the microscope, effectively suppressing speckle noise.
Developed and shared comprehensive documentation, including a parts list and CAD files, for open-source construction.

Main Results:

Successfully built a functional high-power laser engine at a fraction of the cost of commercial systems.
Demonstrated effective speckle suppression using the agitated multimode fiber delivery system.
The open-source design allows for easy replication and customization by other research groups.

Conclusions:

The developed open-source laser engine provides a cost-effective alternative to commercial high-power lasers for microscopy.
This initiative democratizes access to advanced microscopy techniques by lowering equipment costs.
The detailed documentation empowers researchers to build and maintain their own laser systems, fostering innovation in optical imaging.