Thorlabs Inc.
Visit the Solid State Plasma Light Source with Liquid Light Guide page for pricing and availability information

Solid State Plasma Light Source with Liquid Light Guide

Hide Overview

OVERVIEW

Features

  • Output Spectrum: 400 - 700 nm
  • Broadband Light Source Coupled to a Liquid Light Guide (LLG)
    • HPLS243 Includes 3 mm Core Diameter, 1.2 m (4') Long LLG (LLG0338-4)
    • HPLS245 Includes 5 mm Core Diameter, 1.2 m (4') Long LLG (LLG0538-4)
  • Color Rendering Index (CRI): 94*
  • Dimming Range: 30 - 100%
  • Five Times Longer Lifetime than Conventional Xenon Lamps (>10,000 Hours**)
  • USB 2.0 Connection and Control Software Included
  • Power Supply is Included

Thorlabs' high-power, solid-state, plasma light sources (LIFI®) combine the best features of solid-stage electronics and full spectrum plasma emitters. These light sources use a dielectric resonant cavity to efficiently couple power from a solid-state power amplifier through a high-intensity discharge vessel and into the included Liquid Light Guide. The results are a long life (>10,000 hours**, or five times longer than a conventional arc lamp) and a complete color spectrum, making this source ideal for applications such as endoscopy, microscopy, and other medical lighting and inspection applications. This unit also offers many additional features including a USB 2.0 control interface and intensity dimming.

The compact design of the HPLS200 series incorporates a plasma lamp, lamp assembly, and universal (85 - 264 VAC) power supply in one enclosure. The display, controls, and power switch are located on the front of the unit. Lamp ON and intensity can be controlled from the front panel, as well as with the control software. The USB interface, AC cord, and liquid light guide (LLG) mount are located in the rear of the unit. This long-lived plasma lamp is not replaceable by the user; please contact Tech Support for a replacement quote.

The output port of these solid state plasma light sources is equipped with a mount that accepts the included Thorlabs' Ø3 mm or Ø5 mm LLG. The light source design enables airflow and monitoring of the LLG tip temperature, which prevents overheating. To further protect the LLG, a hot mirror is placed just before the LLG tip. A safety system prevents lamp operation if an LLG is not attached.

For applications that would benefit from a free-space output, Thorlabs offers LIFI-based plasma lamps with free-space emission.

A new version of the firmware for the HPLS light sources is available for download. Please see the Software Downloads tab for details.

*Prior to LLG
**The lifetime of >10,000 hours is rated as the time when intensity reaches 50% of the original output.

Hide Specs

SPECS

Item #HPLS243HPLS245
Wavelength Range400 to 700 nm
Included Liquid Light GuideØ3 mm CoreØ5 mm Core
Liquid Light Guide (LLG) Mount3 mm and 5 mm LLG
Color Rendering Index (CRI)a94
Optical Power at LLG Tip Output2.5 W6.0 W
Time to Brightness (Turn on to 90%)10 s Typical (30 s Max)
Numerical Aperture (NA)0.66b
Rated Average Lifetime10,000 Hours at 50% Intensityc
Dimming Range30% to 100%
Correlated Color Temperature6500 Kelvin (Typical)
Electrical
AC Line Voltage85 VAC to 264 VAC
Nominal Power Use230 W
Cooling Fan ControlPulse Width Modulation Controller
Physical
Dimensions (with Feet Attached)9.47" x 7.22" x 6.67" (241 x 183 x 169 mm)

a Prior to LLG
b The focusing lens inside the nose cone of the light source has a NA of 0.66. The LLG is placed at the focal point of this lens.
c The lifetime of >10,000 hours is rated as the time when intensity reaches 50% of the original output.

Hide Graphs

GRAPHS

Emission Spectrum

HPLS200 Series Emission Spectrum
Click here to download emission spectrum data

Short-Term Intensity Stability Plot

HPLS Stability Plot

Spectral Stability

These curves were obtained by subtracting a starting reference spectrum from the light source spectra measured at various times after startup. To view a stability curve for a specific time, click on the corresponding line in the legend below.

Line*Elapsed Time
Reflectance0.25 hr
Reflectance0.5 hr
Reflectance0.75 hr
Reflectance1 hr
Reflectance2 hrs
Reflectance3 hrs
Reflectance4 hrs
Reflectance5 hrs
Reflectance24 hrs

*Select line to see individual stability curve

Hide LIFI® Light Source

LIFI® LIGHT SOURCE

HPLS Lifetime

At the heart of LIFI® is the bulb sub-assembly where a sealed bulb is embedded in a dielectric material. This design is more reliable than conventional light sources that insert degradable electrodes into the bulb. The dielectric material serves two purposes: first as a waveguide for the RF energy transmitted by the RF Power Amplifier Circuit and second as an electric field concentrator that focuses energy in the bulb. The energy from the electric field rapidly heats the material in the bulb to a plasma state that emits light of high intensity and full spectrum. The LIFI light source provides a lifetime in excess of 10,000 hours, which is ten times that of a conventional Xenon bulb.

**The lifetime of >10,000 hours is rated as the time when the intensity reaches 50% of the original output.

Hide Software Downloads

SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS

Firmware

Version 2.04

Software Download
Hide Solid State Plasma Light Source with Liquid Light Guide

Solid State Plasma Light Source with Liquid Light Guide

Part Number
Description
Price
Availability
HPLS243
Plasma Light Source with Ø3 mm, 4 ft (1.2 m) Liquid Light Guide
$3,800.00
3-5 Days
HPLS245
Plasma Light Source with Ø5 mm, 4 ft (1.2 m) Liquid Light Guide
$3,900.00
Today
Hide Collimating Microscope Adapters

Collimating Microscope Adapters

Optic Specifications
Item # ACL5040-A
AR Coating 350 nm - 700 nm
Focal Length 40.00 mm ± 5%
NA 0.554
Magnification Infinite
Surface Quality 60-40 Scratch-Dig
Centration <30 arcmin

Thorlabs offers collimation adapters with AR-coated aspheric condenser lenses (EFL = 40 mm) for collimating the output from our High-Power Light Sources. Five different collimator housings are available; each is designed to mate to the illumination port on an Olympus IX/BX, Leica DMI, Nikon Eclipse, Nikon Eclipse Ti, or Zeiss Axioskop microscope. The difference between both Nikon Eclipse adapters is an additional spring on the bayonet of the Nikon Eclipse Ti adapter.

These adapters quickly mount onto the end of either the Ø3 mm or Ø5 mm Liquid Light Guide (LLG). The LLG is secured via a setscrew into the back of the collimator. The addition of these adapters allows the user to incorporate our HPLS200 series lamps into a microscope illumination port.

LLG Without a Collimator
Click to Enlarge

Output Without Collimation Adapter
Microscope Collimator Connected to an HPLS
Click to Enlarge

Output With Collimation Adapter
Compatible
Microscopes
Olympus BX & IX MicroscopesLeica DMI MicroscopesNikon Eclipse MicroscopesZeiss Axioskop MicroscopesNikon Eclipse Ti Microscopes
Item Photo
Item # LLG3A1-A LLG5A1-A LLG3A2-A LLG5A2-A LLG3A3-A* LLG5A3-A* LLG3A4-A LLG5A4-A LLG3A5-A* LLG5A5-A*
LLG Diameter 3 mm 5 mm 3 mm 5 mm 3 mm 5 mm 3 mm 5 mm 3 mm 5 mm

*The difference between both Nikon Eclipse adapters is an additional spring on the bayonet of the Nikon Eclipse Ti adapter.

Part Number
Description
Price
Availability
LLG3A1-A
Ø3 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Olympus BX / IX, ARC: 350-700 nm
$300.00
Today
LLG5A1-A
Ø5 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Olympus BX / IX, ARC: 350-700 nm
$300.00
Today
LLG3A2-A
Ø3 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Leica DMI, ARC: 350-700 nm
$300.00
Today
LLG5A2-A
Ø5 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Leica DMI, ARC: 350-700 nm
$300.00
Today
LLG3A3-A
Ø3 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Nikon Eclipse, ARC: 350-700 nm
$300.00
Today
LLG5A3-A
Ø5 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Nikon Eclipse, ARC: 350-700 nm
$300.00
Today
LLG3A4-A
Ø3 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Zeiss Axioskop, ARC: 350-700 nm
$300.00
Today
LLG5A4-A
Ø5 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Zeiss Axioskop, ARC: 350-700 nm
$300.00
Today
LLG3A5-A
Ø3 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Nikon Eclipse Ti, ARC: 350-700 nm
$395.00
Today
LLG5A5-A
Ø5 mm LLG Collimating Adapter, Nikon Eclipse Ti, ARC: 350-700 nm
$395.00
Today