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Features | Supercontinuum white light lasers
Broad and flat spectrum
Cover a wide wavelength range with a single light source
SuperK delivers a broadband spectrum covering the visible to near-infrared region from a single light source. Its flat spectral output minimizes wavelength-dependent intensity variations, enabling more reliable measurements across a wide spectral range.
Applications that traditionally require multiple lasers or lamp sources can be addressed with a single SuperK system, simplifying optical setups and improving measurement efficiency.
Key benefits
- Broad wavelength coverage from a single source
- Uniform illumination across a broad wavelength range
- Improved accuracy for spectroscopy and imaging
- Increased operational efficiency without source switching
【Application example】Wavelength flexibility for multicolor fluorescence imaging
Multicolor fluorescence imaging relies on multiple fluorescent probes to simultaneously acquire biological information. Selecting the optimal excitation wavelength is critical for achieving high-quality experimental results.
Each fluorophore has its own optimal excitation wavelength. For example, GFP is typically excited at 488 nm, while mCherry is excited near 561 nm. Conventional excitation sources often provide only limited wavelength options, leading to reduced excitation efficiency and increased spectral crosstalk.
The SuperK series utilizes proprietary photonic crystal fiber technology to generate a broadband continuous spectrum spanning the visible to near-infrared regions through nonlinear optical effects. By combining SuperK with wavelength-selection accessories, users can freely extract the spectral bands best suited to their application. This enables optimal excitation efficiency while minimizing crosstalk and sample photodamage.
The broad wavelength coverage also simplifies the adoption of new fluorescent probes and advanced imaging techniques. Furthermore, when combined with the AOTF-based wavelength selector SuperK SELECT, simultaneous output of up to eight wavelengths is available.
Wavelength Selectivity in Multicolor Fluorescence Imaging (Comparison of a Single-Wavelength Light Source and the Supercontinuum Light Source “SuperK Chromatune”)
Ultrafast pulses for time-resolved measurements
Visualize dynamic phenomena with ultrashort pulses
SuperK provides pulsed output across its entire spectral range, making it ideal for applications requiring high temporal resolution. It is well suited for fluorescence lifetime measurements, time-resolved spectroscopy, and transient phenomenon analysis, where both broadband spectral information and pulsed illumination are required.
Key benefits
- Supports time-resolved measurements
- Enables analysis of fast physical and chemical processes
- Ideal for fluorescence lifetime and optical property characterization
- Simultaneous acquisition of spectral and temporal information
High-quality beam delivery through single-mode fiber
Excellent spatial coherence
SuperK is delivered through a single-mode fiber, providing an excellent beam profile despite its broad spectral bandwidth. The stable Gaussian beam facilitates integration into microscopes, inspection systems, and imaging instruments while ensuring highly reproducible performance.
Key benefits
- Superior beam quality (low M² value)
- High coupling efficiency into optical systems
- Stable illumination with outstanding reproducibility
- Ideal for precision measurements and high-resolution imaging
【Application example】Advantages in light-sheet microscopy
In light-sheet microscopy, beam quality directly affects spatial resolution. The thickness of the light sheet depends on the beam quality (M²) and the numerical aperture (NA) of the optical system. Poor beam quality results in thicker light sheets and lower spatial resolution.
Modern digital scanned light-sheet microscopy (DSLM) commonly generates virtual light sheets by rapidly scanning a tightly focused beam. In these systems, beam quality has a direct impact on sheet thickness and uniformity. By using the SuperK series as the illumination source, thinner and more uniform light sheets can be achieved, enabling high-resolution imaging beyond conventional limitations.
Beam profile data (SuperK CHROMATUNE)
- Center wavelength: 800 nm
- Bandwidth: 5 nm
- Beam diameter: ≈ 0.8 mm @ 800 nm
- M²: M² < 1.1
High-brightness source focusable to the diffraction limit
Efficient Illumination of microscopic areas
The high-quality single-mode beam can be focused to a near diffraction-limited spot size. As a result, SuperK achieves exceptionally high brightness at the focal point despite being a broadband light source. This makes it highly effective for applications requiring high optical power density, including fine-structure inspection, confocal microscopy, semiconductor inspection, and Raman spectroscopy.
Key benefits
- Efficient focusing into microscopic spots
- High optical power density
- Improved signal-to-noise ratio
- Ideal for defect inspection and high-resolution observation
- Confirmation
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