title: NicoLase-An open-source diode laser combiner, fiber launch, and sequencing controller for fluorescence microscopy.
abstract: Modern fluorescence microscopy requires software-controlled illumination sources with high power across a wide range of wavelengths. Diode lasers meet the power requirements and combining multiple units into a single fiber launch expands their capability across the required spectral range. We present the NicoLase, an open-source diode laser combiner, fiber launch, and software sequence controller for fluorescence microscopy and super-resolution microscopy applications. Two configurations are described, giving four or six output wavelengths and one or two single-mode fiber outputs, with all CAD files, machinist drawings, and controller source code openly available.
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8517-4469
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Nicovich
authors.affiliation: EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Böcking
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gaus
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D012984:Software