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Absorption and Emission Bands for the VRC1SM1

• Absorption Band: 250 - 540 nm
• Does Not Require Charging
• Centered Target Aids Alignment
• Externally SM1 (1.035"-40) Threaded

This alignment disk is designed to simplify the alignment of UV and visible beams. It is made from the same slow-fading phosphor material as our VRC1 laser viewing card and features a target that clearly marks the optical axis of any setup. The back of the disk features external SM1 (1.035"-40) threading for compatibility with our Ø1" lens tubes and optic mounts.

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CPA3 Alignment Plate in a
30 mm Cage System

• Orange Fluorescing Cast Acrylic Plates for 16 mm, 30 mm, and 60 mm Cage Systems
• Guide Lines and Ø1 mm or Ø5 mm Through Hole Aligned at Center of Compatible Cage System
• Quick, Drop-In Alignment Tools for Fluorescence Imaging Systems

These drop-in alignment plates are convenient tools for spatial calibration and alignment of cage-based fluorescence imaging systems. The cast acrylic substrate produces fluorescence spectra similar to orange fluorescing proteins and dyes. These plates provide a continuous fluorescent field so that the field of view, illumination consistency, and sample alignment may be assessed and adjusted prior to using a sample containing a fluorophore.

Each plate is cut from cast acrylic material with a thickness of 1.7 mm and has either a Ø1 mm or Ø5 mm through hole aligned at the center of the cage assembly. Each through hole is surrounded by concentric, engraved alignment rings. Options are available for compatibility with our 16 mm, 30 mm, and 60 mm cage systems. For custom colors and sizes up to 1' x 2', please contact Tech Support.

Item #	Color	Through Hole Diameter	Alignment Ring Diameters	Compatible Cage System	Thickness	Transmission  (Click for Graph)	Requires Charging
SCPA2	Orange	1 mm (0.04")	3 mm, 5 mm, 7 mm, and 9 mm	16 mm	1.7 mm ± 0.5 mm		No
CPA3		1 mm (0.04")	4 mm, 7 mm, 10 mm, and 13 mm	30 mm
CPA4		5 mm (0.20")	7 mm, 10 mm, and 13 mm	30 mm
LCPA2		1 mm (0.04")	7 mm, 12 mm, 17 mm, 22 mm, and 27 mm	60 mm

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Raw Data
Fluorescence of the 10 disks when illuminated with Thorlabs' Fiber-Coupled LEDs. Please see the raw data file for the LEDs used to obtain these fluorescence spectra. This data is typical; performance may vary from lot to lot. 

• Fluorescing Cast Acrylic Disks Available in Five Colors: Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red
  • Each Disk Sold Individually or in Packs of Five
• Ø1" and 1.7 mm Thick
• Feature Target Guide Lines or Center Holes 
• Compatible with Our Ø1" Fixed Optic Mounts, Lens Tubes, or 30 mm Cage Plates

These disks are designed to aid in the alignment of widefield, confocal, or multiphoton fluorescence imaging systems. The cast acrylic substrates provide fluorescence spectra similar to various fluorophores, making the disks ideal for use with a variety of lasers used in fluorescence imaging. These disks provide a continuous fluorescent field so that the field of view, illumination consistency, and sample alignment may be assessed and adjusted prior to using a sample containing a fluorophore.

Each disk is 1" in diameter and is cut from cast acrylic material with a thickness of 1.7 ± 0.5 mm. Each disk features an engraved target with two concentric circles or a Ø1.5 mm center hole. For custom colors, sizes, and shapes up to 1' x 2', please contact Tech Support. For more details, please see the full web presentation. 

These disks can be mounted with our Ø1" fixed optic mounts, lens tubes, or 30 mm cage plates.

Item #	Color	Alignment Feature	Dimensions	Thickness	Transmission  (Click for Graph)	Requires Charging
ADF1(-P5)	Blue	Target Guide Lines, Ø3.4 mm and Ø9.4 mm Concentric Circles	Ø1" (Ø25.4 mm), Unmounted	1.7 mm ± 0.5 mm	Raw Data	No
ADF6 (-P5)		Ø1.5 mm ± 0.1 mm Hole in Disk Center
ADF2(-P5)	Green	Target Guide Lines, Ø3.4 mm and Ø9.4 mm Concentric Circles
ADF7(-P5)		Ø1.5 mm ± 0.1 mm Hole in Disk Center
ADF3(-P5)	Yellow	Target Guide Lines, Ø3.4 mm and Ø9.4 mm Concentric Circles
ADF8(-P5)		Ø1.5 mm ± 0.1 mm Hole in Disk Center
ADF4(-P5)	Orange	Target Guide Lines, Ø3.4 mm and Ø9.4 mm Concentric Circles
ADF9(-P5)		Ø1.5 mm ± 0.1 mm Hole in Disk Center
ADF5(-P5)	Red	Target Guide Lines, Ø3.4 mm and Ø9.4 mm Concentric Circles
ADF10(-P5)		Ø1.5 mm ± 0.1 mm Hole in Disk Center

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Absorption and Emission Bands for the VRC2 Alignment Disks

• Absorption Bands: 400 - 640 nm and 800 - 1700 nm
• Requires Charging by Visible Light
• Ø1/2" or Ø1" Unmounted, or SM1 Threaded

These alignment disks are designed to simplify the alignment of visible and IR beams. They are made from the same slow-fading phosphor material as our VRC2 laser viewing card. Ø1/2" and Ø1" unmounted versions are available. Alternatively, we offer alignment disks with external RMS (0.800"-36) or SM1 (1.035"-40) threading for compatibility with an RMS-threaded microscope objective lens or an SM1 lens tube system, respectively.

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Absorption and Emission Bands for the VRC4 Alignment Disks

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Back View of VRC4CPT in a 30 mm Cage System

• Absorption Bands: 790 - 840 nm, 870 - 1070 nm, and 1500 - 1590 nm
• Does Not Require Charging
• Ø1/2" or Ø1" Unmounted, SM1 Threaded, or Cage Plate Mounted

These alignment disks are designed to simplify the alignment of IR beams. They are made from the same slow-fading phosphor material as our VRC4 laser viewing card. Ø1/2" and Ø1" unmounted disks are available, as well as a mounted disk with external SM1 (1.035"-40) threading on one side for compatibility with our Ø1" lens tubes.

The VRC4CPT features an alignment disk mounted on a drop-in cage plate for quickly aligning a beam in a 30 mm cage system. The back side of the plate features a laser-engraved alignment target with Ø4 mm, Ø7 mm, Ø10 mm, and Ø13 mm concentric circles, as shown in the photo to the right.

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Back View of VRC6SCPT in a 30 mm Cage System

• Liquid Crystal Film Changes Color When Exposed to Mid-Infrared (MIR) Light
• Does Not Require Charging
• Minimum Detectable Power Density: 0.05 mW/mm² @ 1550 nm (22 °C)
• Ambient Operating Temperature: 20 to 24 °C
• Ambient Temperature for Peak Sensitivity and Visibility: 22 °C
• Use with Our 30 mm Cage Components or SM1 Lens Tube System

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The active areas of the VRC6SM1 and VRC6SCPT alignment disks change color above 23° C.

The VRC6SCPT Cage-Plate-Mounted Alignment Disk and VRC6SM1 SM1-Threaded MIR Alignment Disk are made of the same material as our VRC6S Detector Card and have been tested with laser sources of wavelengths ranging from 1.5 µm to 13.2 µm. This VRC6SCPT is composed of an alignment disk adhered to an anodized aluminum cage alignment plate. The disk is positioned such that its Ø2.0 mm central hole is concentric with the plate's Ø0.9 mm through hole and aligned with the exact center of a 30 mm cage system. The back side of the plate features a laser-engraved alignment target with Ø4 mm, Ø7 mm, Ø10 mm, and Ø13 mm concentric circles (see photo to the right). The VRC6SM1 consists of an alignment disk encased within an SM1 housing and is designed to simplify the alignment of MIR beams when used with an SM1 lens tube system. The active region of the VRC6SM1's disk is Ø0.79" with Ø3 mm and Ø9 mm concentric circular target guide lines (see photo to the left).

The recommended ambient temperature range for these alignment disks is 20 to 24 °C, with peak sensitivity and responsivity at an ambient temperature of 22 °C. The detector area is black below approximately 23 °C. Above this temperature the detector will turn red, then yellow, then green and finally blue/violet around 28 °C (see photo to the left). This color change occurs whether heated by laser exposure or increased ambient temperature. The responsivity will be reduced when used at an ambient temperature below 20 °C since the material will require more time for the area exposed to the laser to reach a temperature above 23 °C, and the alignment disks will exhibit lower sensitivity above 24 °C since the color contrast between the laser-exposed region and the rest of the active region will be reduced.

To restore the VRCS6M1 alignment disk after beam exposure, blow air on the active area with a duster such as the CA4-US or CA4-EU. The active area of the VRC6SCPT cage-plate-mounted alignment disk can be restored by resting the plate face down on a table top (i.e. an optical table with stainless steel surface) for a few minutes. These disks may take longer to recover after exposure to higher laser energy, and sometimes the color change may look permanent at room temperature. If this occurs, place the affected alignment disk in a refrigerator at 0 to 4 °C for a few minutes to accelerate the recovery.

Please Note: The spot size on the disks will vary depending on power density. See the Laser Viewing Cards presentation for more information.