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Fluorescence detection in capillary arrays based on galvanometer step scanning
Author(s) -
Xue Gang,
Yeung Edward S.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/1522-2683(200109)22:16<3490::aid-elps3490>3.0.co;2-3
Subject(s) - galvanometer , photomultiplier , capillary action , optics , laser , duty cycle , scanner , signal (programming language) , fluorescence , materials science , laser scanning , stray light , power (physics) , detector , physics , computer science , quantum mechanics , composite material , programming language
A computer‐controlled galvanometer scanner is adapted for scanning a focused laser beam across a 96‐capillary array for laser‐induced fluorescence detection. The signal at a single photomultiplier tube is temporally sorted to distinguish among the capillaries. The limit of detection for fluoresceins is 3×10 –11 M (S/N = 3) for 5 mW of total laser power scanned at 4 Hz. The observed cross‐talk among capillaries is 0.2%. Advantages include the efficient utilization of light due to the high duty‐cycle of step scan, good detection performance due to the reduction of stray light, ruggedness due to the small mass of the galvanometer mirror, low cost due to the simplicity of components, and flexibility due to the independent paths for excitation and emission.