Omicron-Laserage Laserprodukte GmbH announced that it has started mass production of direct green (515 nm) diode lasers specifically geared toward biotechnology applications. The new diode lasers offer a number of advantages over conventional argon gas lasers and diode-pumped solid-state lasers, Omicron said. For example, with its direct analog modulation up to 500 MHz, the lasers need no optoacoustic modulator. The result is a smaller and more cost-effective diode laser. The new lasers also have a greater power efficiency (the Luxx diode lasers have an optical output power of 25 mW while consuming only 5 W), leading to a longer lifetime. Another significant feature of the Omicron diode lasers in the new wavelength range is the system's readiness in less than two minutes. In Omicron’s Luxx and Phoxx laser series, the new 515-nm diode laser will replace DPSS lasers of the same wavelength. The 515-nm wavelength is available immediately for all Omicron laser models, the company said. For more information, visit: www.omicron-laser.de