Setting up lasers with the GUI - mesoSPIM/mesoSPIM-hardware-documentation GitHub Wiki

To make the system as easy to start up as possible you should use the laser manufacturer's GUI. The following instructions are based on configuration with two Toptica laser combiners (one per arm), but other models are similar.

Setting up Toptica lasers for turn-key operation

So the following so that the units require only turning the key to be ready for use :

  1. Start the laser GUI and connect to the laser.
  2. Right-click on the laser GUI icon and start a second instance of the GUI.
  3. Under the Connection menu option, select the COM port associated with the other laser and connect to that one also.
  4. Set all lasers to TTL and analog control mode.
  5. Set all sliders to 100%
  6. Enable all laser lines for emission (click both buttons above each slider)

Save the settings using the button to the right of the sliders. The settings are saved to the unit itself. In future, turning on the laser with the key switch will enable all the laser lines and you won't have to start the GUI again.

Equalising Left/Right Laser Power

Once the system is aligned, image a sample at a typical laser power with the laser GUIs open. Switch between the left and right sides. If image intensity changes obviously (use also the histogram to verify this) then you will need to turn down the appropriate slider in the laser manufacturer's GUI.

  1. Image the sample with the laser that results in the dimmer image. Note the peak location of the histogram. You can place the lower limit slider on the peak to mark it.
  2. Switch to the brighter laser.
  3. Turn down the power slider in the manufacturer's GUI until the power level matches that of the dimmer laser.
  4. Repeat for all laser lines.
  5. Save the settings in the GUI.

On Toptica lasers, analog line 1 is the longest wavelength and line 4 is the shortest wavelength.

:point_up: Use BNC T-connectors to split each analog output line to both lasers.