Coherent
Solid-State
Ultrafast
CHAMELEON
Chameleon™ and Chameleon-XR are single-box, hands-free ultrafast lasers with ultrawide tuning
ranges. Coherent's established Kerr Lens modelocking design and DPSS PermAlign™ technology
combine to provide the ultimate tunable ultrafast laser.
Incorporating the field-proven, solid-state Verdi™ laser as its pump source, Chameleon is an efficient,
reliable and low-noise ultrafast laser. Both Chameleon models feature the Power Pulse™ system,
which uses our patented dispersion-balanced tuning mechanism to ensure that output power and
pulse width are optimized automatically at all wavelengths.With their MRU miniature air
recirculator, Chameleons can tune effortlessly through atmospheric water vapor absorption lines
without an external purge.
Chameleon is purpose-built for multi-photon excitation (MPE) microscopy and provide a pulse width
optimized for minimal broadening in microscope systems, with a superb specified beam quality to
maximize sample excitation. The extended wavelength range provided by the Chameleon-XR enables
even more optimal excitation of cutting edge fluorescent proteins, calcium indicators and native
fluorescence, as well as higher power for deeper imaging into samples. Chameleon is also ideally
suited to many other applications, including time-resolved photoluminescence, non-linear
spectroscopy, fluorescence upconversion, quantumchemistry, and terahertz imaging.
CHAMELEON & CHAMELEON-XR
System
Specifications
Utility and
Environmental
Requirements
1
Output Power1
1W Chameleon, 1.5W Chameleon-XR
Tuning Range
720 to 950 nm Chameleon,
705 nm to 980 nm Chameleon XR
Pulse Width1,2
<140 fs
Noise3
<0.15%
Output Power Stability4
Spatial Mode
<±0.5%
TEM00 (M2 <1.11)
Beam Diameter1,5
(1.2 ±0.2) mm
Beam Ellipticity1,6
0.9 to 1.1
Repetition Rate
90 MHz, nominal
Polarization
Horizontal, >500:1
Operating Voltage
Maximum Operating Current
System Power Consumption
90 to 250 VAC (auto ranging)
<15A at 90 VAC (power supply)
<7A at 90 VAC (chiller)
<2A at 90 VAC (MRU-1000)
2300W max., 1300W typical
Line Frequency
47 to 63 Hz
Operating Temperature Range
15 to 35°C (59 to 95°F)
Weight of Laser Head
42 kg (93 lb.)
Weight of Power Supply
41 kg (90 lb.)
Umbilical Length
Chiller:
Dimensions (L x W x H)
Weight
MRU Air Recirculator:
Dimensions (L x W x H)
Weight
3 m (10 ft.)
Specified at peak of tuning curve.
Based on sech2 deconvolution of 0.65 times autocorrelation
width. Pulse width is <200 fs across specified tuning range.
3 Measured rms in a 10 Hz to 20 MHz bandwidth.
2
27 x 20 x 38 cm (11 x 8 x 15 in.)
11 kg (25 lb.)
46 x 43 x 8.5 cm (18 x 17 x 3 in.)
9 kg (20 lb.)
4
Power drift in any two-hour period with less than ±1°C
temperature change after a one-hour warm-up.
5 1/e2 at exit port.
6 Ratio of major to minor 1/e2 beam diameter at exit port.
Widely Tunable,
Hands-Free, Modelocked
Ti:Sapphire Lasers
FEATURES
• Hands-free operation
• Extended ultra-wide tuning
range (230 nm Chameleon,
275 nm Chameleon-XR)
• Pulse width optimized for
minimal broadening in
MPE microscope
systems
• High output power
(1W Chameleon, 1.5W
Chameleon-XR)
• Superb, specified beam
quality
• Power Pulse™ system
optimizes output power
and pulse width automatically at all wavelengths
• PowerTrack™ active alignment for long-term stability
• Tuning above 920 nm
provided by MRU air
recirculator (included)
• Simple menu-driven GUI or
RS-232 operator interface
• On-board spectrometer with
simple USB interface shows
wavelength and bandwidth
• Sealed, maintenance-free
design
• Proprietary opto-mechanical
mounting for permanent
alignment
• Long-life AAA™ laser
diodes, with easy diode
replacement
• Closed-loop chiller (included)
Widely Tunable, Hands-Free,
Modelocked Ti:Sapphire Lasers
CHAMELEON
Chameleon Tuning Curves
(Typical data)
Outpu Power (mW)
2000
1750
1500
1250
Chameleon XR
1000
750
Chameleon
500
250
0
700
750
800
850
900
Wavelength (nm)
950
1000
Mechanical Specifications
Laser Head—Front View
36.90 cm
(14.53 in.)
Laser Head—Top View
13.36 cm
(5.26 in.)
Min. Bend Radius
10.20 cm (4.00 in.)
13.36 cm
(5.26 in.)
18.92 cm
(7.45 in.) 12.07 cm
(4.75 in.)
output
36.90 cm
(14.53 in.)
Laser Head—Side View
18.92 cm
(7.45 in.)
output
61.04 cm
(24.03 in.)
4.10 cm (1.61 in.)
53.00 cm
(20.87 in.)
12.07 cm
(4.75 in.)
Power Supply—Front View
Laser Head—Back View
Power Supply—Side View
43.43 cm
(17.10 in.)
18.92 cm
(7.45 in.)
45.04 cm
(17.73 in.)
26.78 cm 24.96 cm
(10.54 in.) (9.82 in.)
32.62 cm
(12.84 in.)
36.90 cm
(14.53 in.)
Coherent follows a policy of continuous product improvement.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
C O H E R E N T, I N C .
5100 Patrick Henry Drive
Santa Clara, CA 95054
phone (800) 527-3786
Japan
+81 (3) 5635 8700
Coherent’s scientific and industrial lasers are certified to comply
with Federal Regulations (21 CFR Subchapter J) as administered by
the Center for Devices and Radiological Health on all systems
ordered for shipment after August 2, 1976.
(408) 764-4983
Benelux +31 (30) 280 6060
Coherent offers a limited warranty for all its Chameleon systems.
(800) 362-1170
France
For full details on warranty coverage, please refer to the Service
(408) 988-6838
Germany +49 (6071) 9680
and Support section at www.Coherent.com, or contact your local
e-mail tech.sales@Coherent.com
Italy
+39 (02) 34 530 214
Sales or Service Representative.
web
UK
+44 (0) 1353 65883
fax
www.Coherent.com
Printed in the U.S.A. MC-247-04-2.5m0504
Copyright © 2004 Coherent, Inc.
+33 (1) 6985 5145
VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION.
AVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE
TO DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATION.
CLASS 4 LASER PRODUCT
PER IEC 60825-1:2001
ISO 9001:2000
Registered
CHAMELEON LASER
MAX. AVG. OUTPUT POWER: 3W
EMITTED WAVELENGTHS: 650-1100 nm
PULSE DURATION: 10-300 fs