iChrome MLE

Powerful 4-line laser combiner

Make no compromises on laser power to push the limits of super resolution and spinning disk microscopy

iChrome MLE Powerful 4-line laser combiner

The iChrome MLE combines up to four laser wavelengths in one compact and fully integrated module. As a flexible Laser Combiner and Multi-Line Laser, it brings up to three diode lasers and one DPSS laser into a polarization maintaining single mode fiber, delivering the flexibility your application needs while keeping your system clean, compact and easy to integrate.

Designed with OEMs in mind, the iChrome MLE makes integration refreshingly straightforward. A unified user interface, flexible control options and high speed analog and digital modulation allow precise control of wavelength and intensity while fitting seamlessly into existing system architectures. For instruments that need reliable multi wavelength illumination without unnecessary complexity, it works as a practical Multi-Wavelength Laser solution built for daily use.

What really makes the difference is what you never have to do. Thanks to our intelligent COOL^AC technology, the system automatically restores optimal alignment at the push of a button. Even when ambient conditions change, optical output remains stable without manual realignment.

The result is less maintenance, fewer service calls and more confidence that every system performs exactly as intended. Your customers enjoy reliable illumination. You enjoy a Laser Light Engine that simply keeps working.

Compact, stable and built for everyday operation, the iChrome MLE is the easy way to add professional multi wavelength illumination to your next instrument.

Your Benefits

Reliable and long term stable

The iChrome single-mode fiber coupled laser combiner comes with COOL^AC automatic alignment technology. You will never again waste valuable time for manual laser re-alignment.

Unified control interface

The iChrome laser combiners are easy to integrate. They can be controlled by a simple unified, programmable interface, also accepting standard TTL and analog signals.

Fast modulation capabilities

iChrome MLE laser systems can modulate up to 20 MHz for all lines (including the DPSS laser line) to serve even the most demanding applications.

Applications

Spinning disk microscopy

Spinning disc microscopy uses parallelized laser excitation and detection to capture high-contrast optical sections at high frame rates, making it well suited for live-cell imaging.

Super resolution microscopy (STED, SIM, PALM, STORM)

Pushing beyond the diffraction limit, super-resolution techniques such as STED, SIM, PALM, and STORM demand lasers with exceptional stability, pulse control, high power levels and spectral purity.

Lightsheet microscopy (SPIM)

Lightsheet microscopy (SPIM) takes optical sectioning to the next level by illuminating samples with a thin sheet of light, reducing phototoxicity while achieving fast 3D imaging. With our multi-line laser platforms, researchers can simultaneously excite multiple fluorophores to capture rich volumetric data of developing embryos, organoids, and living tissues.

Optical scatterometry (OCD)

As semiconductor devices approach atomic-scale dimensions, controlling and verifying every nanometer of pattern geometry becomes a decisive factor for yield and performance. Traditional inspection tools like electron microscopy deliver high resolution, but they are too slow, too localized, and often destructive for in-line process control. Optical Scatterometry, also known as Optical Critical Dimension (OCD) metrology, provides the essential bridge between high-resolution analysis and high-throughput manufacturing. By analyzing how laser light is scattered, diffracted, or reflected from micro- and nanostructures, OCD enables non-contact, rapid, and precise measurement of line width, height, sidewall angle, and layer thickness — with sub-nanometer accuracy.

Interferometry

In semiconductor manufacturing, perfection is measured in nanometers - or often even less. To measure such minute variations with speed and accuracy, the industry relies on laser-based interferometric metrology - a non-contact, non-destructive optical technique capable of resolving surface and layer thickness with sub-nanometer precision.

Options

Custom laser lines

Select up to 4 laser lines chosing from a variety of wavelengths. See specifications for details.

Additional laser line

Adds a fifth laser line via an external iBeam smart with separate fiber output. Connected via RS-232 interface and conveniently controlled via the iChrome's TOPAS graphical user interface.

Higher power

If you need more power for your application, please refer to our product variant iChrome MLE-HP. See specifications for details.

FiberDock collimator

FiberDock for collimated free-beam delivery. Flexible solution with 6 independent alignment axes.

FiberOut collimator

FiberOut for collimated free-beam delivery. Rugged solution with low handling effort.

Custom fiber connector

Select your connector type for the output fiber. FC/AFC (8° angled) as standard, FC/PC, FCP8 and others on request.

Passive cooling kit

Fanless cooling solution for lab environment up to 25°C. No vibration and acoustic noise while reducing dust circulation by dissipating heat through passive convection. Ideal for vibration or noise sensitive applications.

Active cooling kit

Active cooling solution for warm laboratory environments (up to 32 °C). Enables reliable operation under high ambient temperatures.

Process shutter (global or DPSS)

Shuttering of either all laser wavelengths (global) or the DPSS laser wavelength only. Operation via software or hardware (TTL) signals, with hardware signals taking priority. The shutter is normally closed.

Specifications

Downloads

Technical Drawings

Technical drawings iChrome MLE

Literature

Papers

Skeletal muscle endothelial dysfunction through the activin A–PGC1α axis drives progression of cancer cachexia

Young-Mee Kim, et al., Skeletal muscle endothelial dysfunction through the activin A–PGC1α axis drives progression of cancer cachexia, Nature Cancer volume 6, pages1350 1369 (2025)
Chip-based label-free incoherent super-resolution optical microscopy

Nikhil Jayakumar, et al., Chip-based label-free incoherent super-resolution optical microscopy, Nature, Light: Science & Applications 14, Article number 259 (2025)
Bayesian Inference of Binding Kinetics from Fluorescence Time Series

J. Shepard Bryan IV et al., Bayesian Inference of Binding Kinetics from Fluorescence Time Series (2025)

Articles

iChrome MLE: More than just Four Lasers in a Box

iChrome MLE: More than just four lasers in a box, Wiley (2014)
Klaviatur der Farben

Dr. Marion Lang, Dr. Thomas Renner, Klaviatur der Farben, Laser (2011)
Lasers for Confocal Microscopy

Dr. Marion Lang, Lasers for Confocal Microscopy, Imaging & Microcopy (2011)

Application Notes

A multicolor TIRF microscope

Dr. Marion Lang et al., A multicolor TIRF microscope (2012)

iChrome MLE Powerful 4-line laser combiner

Image Gallery

Your Benefits

Applications

Options

Specifications

Downloads

Technical Drawings

Technical drawings iChrome MLE

Literature

Papers

Skeletal muscle endothelial dysfunction through the activin A–PGC1α axis drives progression of cancer cachexia

Chip-based label-free incoherent super-resolution optical microscopy

Bayesian Inference of Binding Kinetics from Fluorescence Time Series

Articles

iChrome MLE: More than just Four Lasers in a Box

Klaviatur der Farben

Lasers for Confocal Microscopy

Application Notes

A multicolor TIRF microscope

Related Products