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.
| Item # | HPLS243 | HPLS245 |
|---|---|---|
| Wavelength Range | 400 to 700 nm | |
| Included Liquid Light Guide | Ø3 mm Core | Ø5 mm Core |
| Liquid Light Guide (LLG) Mount | 3 mm and 5 mm LLG | |
| Color Rendering Index (CRI)a | 94 | |
| Optical Power at LLG Tip Output | 2.5 W | 6.0 W |
| Time to Brightness (Turn on to 90%) | 10 s Typical (30 s Max) | |
| Numerical Aperture (NA) | 0.66b | |
| Rated Average Lifetime | 10,000 Hours at 50% Intensityc | |
| Dimming Range | 30% to 100% | |
| Correlated Color Temperature | 6500 Kelvin (Typical) | |
| Electrical | ||
| AC Line Voltage | 85 VAC to 264 VAC | |
| Nominal Power Use | 230 W | |
| Cooling Fan Control | Pulse 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.

Click here to download emission spectrum data

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.

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.
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 |
| 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.


| Compatible Microscopes | Olympus BX & IX Microscopes | Leica DMI Microscopes | Nikon Eclipse Microscopes | Zeiss Axioskop Microscopes | Nikon 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 |