While most applications call for optical filters to be used at normal incidence, it is important to understand how the spectral properties of different types of filters change when using these filters a non-normal angles of incidence (AOI). There are two main effects exhibited by all filter spectrum as the angle is increased from normal which are discussed in this article.
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IDEX Health & Science specializes in directing fluid to where it needs to be, so you can automate your fluidic process in a simple package and form factor. Our team of experts has decades of experience in life science applications to help you avoid pitfalls across a broad range of operations and accelerate your time to market.
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This Chemical Compatibility section will allow you to either check what materials will work with the chemicals you are using or planning to use; or view what compatibility ratings are given to a material you are planning to use.
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Explore our material properties guide by selecting the material of your choice from the list provided to view properties and solvent compatibility
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Laser damage to optical filters is strongly dependent on many factors, and thus it is difficult to guarantee the performance of a filter in all possible circumstances. Nevertheless, it is useful to identify a Laser Damage Threshold (LDT) of pulse fluence or intensity below which no damage is likely to occur. Laser damage may be broadly classified into two types: absorption-driven and dielectric-breakdown damage. Which type dominates depends on the material properties (absorption coefficient, specific heat, melting temperature, as well as defects that cause scattering and concentrated electric field effects), geometric properties of the sample (thickness, homogeneity, surface morphology, etc.), and of course the properties of the laser beam itself.
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In this article we briefly describe the method to calculate the three main parameters that fully specify color in this system: luminosity, dominant wavelength, and excitation purity.
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Explore our step by step guide to add a Semrock optical filter set to Leica DM-K, DM-R and DM-IRB cubes.
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Explore our step by step guide to add a Semrock optical filter set to a Zeiss ZHE cube.
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Explore our step by step guide to add a Semrock optical filter set to a Zeiss Threaded Filter cube.
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Explore our step by step guide to add a Semrock optical filter set to a Nikon TE2000 Cube.
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Explore our step by step guide to add a Semrock optical filter set to a Nikon Quadfluor Cube.
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Explore our step by step guide to add a Semrock optical filter set to an Olympus U-MF2 Cube and an Olympus U-MF/XL cube.
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Our Periodic Table of Analytical Fittings illustrates over 100 analytical fittings’ pressure rating, tubing size, head style, fitting material, and torque required.
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Explore our tech tips and find technical topics from Avoiding Pressure Transients to how to choose a Sample Loop.
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In multicolored fluorescence microscopy, pixel shift can cause imaging errors, which can lead to erroneous interpretation of biological data. This article highlights some key considerations in the design of optical filter sets with “zero pixel shift” (less than one pixel error) performance.
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Our Troubleshooting Guide presents common problems encountered when using manual sample injection valves. Each problem (or “symptom,”; such as spurious peaks) is described and followed by a detailed discussion of possible causes and solutions. This information has been compiled by our technical staff with 25 years of technical support experience with sample injection and fluidic technology.
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With a virtually unlimited lifetime and superior performance, Semrock optical filters help ensure the best possible images. They may be the easiest and least expensive way to improve the performance of your microscope when compared to the cost of upgrading cameras and objectives.
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Optical filters are generally comprised of multi-layered thin-film coatings on plane, parallel glass substrates. All Semrock filters use a single substrate with coatings on one or both sides to maximize transmission and reliability. The glass substrate is not always perfectly flat before coating and the intrinsic stress of hard coatings can cause slight bending of the substrate. Fortunately, this bending has no noticeable effect on light transmitted through an optical filter at or near normal incidence. For light incident at high angles of incidence, like for a 45° dichroic beamsplitter, the bent substrate creates a slight divergence of the transmitted beam axis similar to the effect of a small wedge in the substrate. Unless the radius of curvature is very small (much less than one meter) the quality of the transmitted beam remains largely unaffected.
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Transition width and edge steepness are two terms often used to describe the spectral properties of edge filters and it is important to know that these two terms are related, but not interchangeable. Transition Width is the maximum distance between the laser line (where OD > 6) and the 50% transmission point. Edge Steepness is the actual steepness measured from the OD 6 point to the 50% transmission point.
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