Multi-laser systems having modified beam profiles and methods of use thereof
Aspects of the present disclosure include systems with multiple lasers having modified beam profiles. Systems according to certain embodiments include a first laser that produces a first beam of light, a second laser that produces a second beam of light and a beam shaping component that receives the first beam of light and the second beam of light at substantially the same position from different angles of incidence and is configured to generate from the first beam of light and the second beam of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis. Methods for irradiating a sample in a flow stream with the output beam of light are also described. Kits having one or more lasers and a beam shaping component configured to generate from a first beam of light and a second beam of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis are also provided.
1. A multi-laser apparatus comprising:
a plurality of lasers that produce a plurality of beams of light;
a beam shaping component that receives each of the plurality of beams of light at the same position at a surface of or within the beam shaping component from different angles of incidence and is configured to generate from the plurality of beams of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis, wherein the beam shaping component consists of a single beam shaping lens and wherein light from each laser is propagated directly to the beam shaping component; and
a flow cell configured to propagate a sample in a flow stream, wherein the beam shaping component directs the output beam to the flow cell.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein two or more lasers of the plurality of lasers are each in optical communication with a mirror component that is configured to combine the two or more beams of light produced by the two or more lasers, wherein the mirror component comprises:
a first mirror; and
a second mirror positioned to propagate light from the first mirror to the beam shaping component.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the intensity at the center of the output beam of light is from 90% to 99.9% of the intensity at the edges of the output beam of light along the horizontal axis.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the beam shaping component is configured to generate an output beam of light having:
a top hat intensity profile along the horizontal axis; or
a super Gaussian intensity profile along the horizontal axis.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output beam of light comprises a Gaussian distribution along a vertical axis of the output laser beam.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the angle of incidence to the beam shaping component of each beam of light differs by 0.5 degrees or more.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the output beam of light is configured to irradiate a spatial width that is from 90% to 99.9% of the flow stream along a horizontal axis.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the beam shaping component is configured to generate a plurality of output beams of light, wherein the generated output beams of light are configured to irradiate different positions along the longitudinal axis of the flow stream.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the output beams are separated from each other along the longitudinal axis of the flow stream by 1 mm or more.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the single beam shaping lens is a Powell lens.
11. A method comprising irradiating a sample in a flow stream with a plurality of beams of light produced by a plurality of lasers through a beam shaping lens that receives each of the plurality of beams of light at the same position at a surface of or within the beam shaping component from different angles of incidence and is configured to generate from the plurality of beams of light an output beam of light having a predetermined intensity profile along a horizontal axis, wherein light from each laser is propagated directly to the beam shaping component.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein two or more lasers of the plurality of lasers are each in optical communication with a mirror component that is configured to combine two or more beams of light produced by the two or more lasers.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the mirror component comprises:
a first mirror; and
a second mirror positioned to propagate light from the first mirror to the beam shaping lens.
14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the beam shaping lens is configured to generate an output beam of light having:
a top hat intensity profile along the horizontal axis; or
a super Gaussian intensity profile along the horizontal axis.
15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the intensity at the center of the output beam of light is from 90% to 99.9% of the intensity at the edges of the output beam of light along the vertical axis.
16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the flow stream comprises a core stream and a laminating sheath stream and
wherein an output beam of light is generated having an intensity profile that is substantially the same across from 90% to 99.9% of the core stream along a horizontal axis.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the method comprises:
generating a first output laser beam having a top hat intensity profile along a horizontal axis; and
generating a second output laser beam having a super Gaussian intensity profile along the horizontal axis.
18. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the beam shaping lens is a Powell lens.
19. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises focusing the output beam of light onto the sample with a focusing lens that receives the output beam of light from the beam shaping lens and directs the output beam to the sample.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the focusing lens receives the output beam of light directly from the beam shaping lens and directs the output beam directly to the sample.
21. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a focusing lens that receives the output beam of light from the beam shaping component and directs the output beam to the flow cell.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the focusing lens receives the output beam of light directly from the beam shaping component and directs the output beam directly to the flow cell.