I figured you guys must have some good experience. I have posted in these forums in the past (built my own Blu-Ray laser direct laser write lithography setup for dirt cheap, rivaling system costing upwards of $100k).
I am currently looking at purchasing a mid power red laser (pointer). I need something above 10 mW, preferably around 650 nm and with low divergence and relatively high stability. If possible it would be great if it has a toggle on off button.
A bit of info on what I am trying to do: I am trying to look at the diffraction pattern of a novel diffraction grating structure that has very dense features, thus, it requires higher power in order to be able to see diffraction spots well. That, while being illuminated by a focused green laser to introduce heat into the grating samples. In essence, it is a pump-probe setup. I have a HeNe laser (633 nm, 0.4 mW) that just is too weak for it. 650 nm would work best, since I have a red 650-40 type filter before my detector. Beam divergence should be low, as for the beam to not spread too much after about 30-40 cm. Good stability would be great, as I am measuring time dependent dynamic changes.
Any good places too look online? Wicked lasers has their Nano red lasers, but they are ridiculously over priced. They do have high quality stuff (used an Arctic 1 or 2W laser before that was very good), but they are generally too pricey for what we want to do. My boss wants me to get a cheap one, of course, but getting something that is cheap/high power/high stability/low divergence is hard.
I am currently looking at purchasing a mid power red laser (pointer). I need something above 10 mW, preferably around 650 nm and with low divergence and relatively high stability. If possible it would be great if it has a toggle on off button.
A bit of info on what I am trying to do: I am trying to look at the diffraction pattern of a novel diffraction grating structure that has very dense features, thus, it requires higher power in order to be able to see diffraction spots well. That, while being illuminated by a focused green laser to introduce heat into the grating samples. In essence, it is a pump-probe setup. I have a HeNe laser (633 nm, 0.4 mW) that just is too weak for it. 650 nm would work best, since I have a red 650-40 type filter before my detector. Beam divergence should be low, as for the beam to not spread too much after about 30-40 cm. Good stability would be great, as I am measuring time dependent dynamic changes.
Any good places too look online? Wicked lasers has their Nano red lasers, but they are ridiculously over priced. They do have high quality stuff (used an Arctic 1 or 2W laser before that was very good), but they are generally too pricey for what we want to do. My boss wants me to get a cheap one, of course, but getting something that is cheap/high power/high stability/low divergence is hard.
