Experimental PIV system using 532nm green laser - Please advise

[Jiven_G]

Hi Everyone, first time posting so bear with me.

I am currently looking to develop and inexpensive particle image velocimetry (PIV) system, and I want to use a high power laser pointer as a cheaper substitute to research-grade lasers.

Past studies have made use of 532nm, 100mW class 3b laser pointers so I would like to use something similar. It was recommended to use a NovaLaser x100 compact laser pointer, however that company has since gone out of business and its therefore inaccessible. Can you recommend a good quality alternative?

Please note, my budget is $200 - $500. I also require a lens kit for the laser in order to collimate the laser beam into a sheet, please recommend a good laser pointer + lens kit combination within budget.

Thanks for the assistance.

 

[farbe2]

Do you really need 532nm?
There are cheap diodes in the 520nm range that could be suitable. These are cheaper because the whole system is less complicated. No IR diode + crystal + mirror just direct green.
If you just want to count particles with a cam, every visible wavelength would be ok. So the cheapest would be a 638nm diode with 185mW. These would only require a collimating lens and a line lens. I think <100$ would be doable.