Coherent Sapphire 20mW 488nm OPSL laser + CPU driver

[Laser Ben]

This thing is cool!!!1

[Xytrell]

So aside for the (much) higher efficiency, is it any better than an argon?

[Laser Ben]

Yes, longer coherence length, better pointing stability, longer lifetime, better beam specs, takes less space, faster warm up time, more control.

[allthatwhichis]

better beam specs

Really? I still assumed gas would be a better beam...

[Laser Ben]

The beam on here is better then any HeNe I have ever seen. I have not seen the beam on a low power argon, but I have strong doubts that is is as good as this. The roundness is amazing and the beam diameter at the apature is so tiny and the divergence is equally small.

Take for example a Spectra-Physics 163-A12 25mW 488nm argon head. The gaussian rating also know as M Squared, is less than 1.2 with 1 being a perfect gaussian beam. On this laser, the M squared rating is less then 1.1. On the same 163-A12 head, the beam diameter is 0.69mm where as the 488-20 has a 0.65mm beam spec. The pointing stability is very similar between the two, 30urad.

[mixedgas]

The beam on here is better then any HeNe I have ever seen. I have not seen the beam on a low power argon, but I have strong doubts that is is as good as this. The roundness is amazing and the beam diameter at the apature is so tiny and the divergence is equally small.

Take for example a Spectra-Physics 163-A12 25mW 488nm argon head. The gaussian rating also know as M Squared, is less than 1.2 with 1 being a perfect gaussian beam. On this laser, the M squared rating is less then 1.1. On the same 163-A12 head, the beam diameter is 0.69mm where as the 488-20 has a 0.65mm beam spec. The pointing stability is very similar between the two, 30urad.

Large and Medium Frame argons kick its ass because of longer cavities. But as solid state lasers go, saph is the cats meow.

Steve

[smogthemog]

Any news Ben of where the 532 Pointer is please? It STILL hasn't arrived?

Thanks
Jim

The beam on here is better then any HeNe I have ever seen. I have not seen the beam on a low power argon, but I have strong doubts that is is as good as this. The roundness is amazing and the beam diameter at the apature is so tiny and the divergence is equally small.

Take for example a Spectra-Physics 163-A12 25mW 488nm argon head. The gaussian rating also know as M Squared, is less than 1.2 with 1 being a perfect gaussian beam. On this laser, the M squared rating is less then 1.1. On the same 163-A12 head, the beam diameter is 0.69mm where as the 488-20 has a 0.65mm beam spec. The pointing stability is very similar between the two, 30urad.

[smogthemog]

Laser Ben - I am trying to contact you? You have ignored my last 2 PM's about the 350mW 532 laser pointer you said was part of the transaction for the OPSL - i have STILL not received it??
Please get in touch about it as you are ignoring my PM's!

I quote" I don't know if you would at all be interested, but I also would be willing to throw in a 350mW CNI handheld green that is pretty much new"

Thanks
Jim

EDIT - Ben has now got in touch.