Product Overview
The Bruker RAMANwalk redefines the efficiency of confocal Raman imaging by replacing traditional slow raster scanning with a stochastic, "smart" scanning approach. Unlike conventional microscopes that move a stage line-by-line, the RAMANwalk employs ultra-fast galvanic mirrors to steer the laser beam across the sample. This enables the system to actively search for Raman signals using information theory; once a chemical signature is detected, the algorithm autonomously explores the surrounding area to map the feature before moving rapidly to the next potential point of interest.
This "random walk" technology allows for exceptionally quick Raman image previews, often providing a representative picture of the sample's composition in just 10% of the total measurement time. This makes the RAMANwalk an ideal tool for routine screening, identifying foreign contaminants, or selecting regions of interest for high-resolution 3D imaging. By focusing laser power only where relevant signals exist, the system achieves imaging speeds 5 to 10 times faster than traditional methods without sacrificing spectral quality.
The system is fully automated, from laser switching and auto-alignment to wavenumber calibration using an internal neon lamp. Its compact, Class 1 laser-safe housing is designed for versatile use in pharmaceutical R&D, battery manufacturing, and life science research, where identifying low-contrast features purely by their chemical "fingerprint" is a critical requirement.
Product Demonstration
Key Features
- Random Walk Technology: Intelligently searches for Raman signals to cut imaging time significantly by avoiding empty sample space.
- Smart Previews: Generates high-quality overview images in minimal time, accelerating routine analysis and screening tasks.
- Galvanometer Beam Steering: Uses responsive mirrors for millisecond-level laser positioning, eliminating the vibration and drift associated with stage movement.
- 3D Confocal Imaging: Nondestructively explores the internal structure of transparent samples with high depth resolution.
- Full Automation: Includes software-controlled laser switching, auto-alignment, and auto-tuning of the optical path for optimal throughput.
- Laser Safety Class 1: Fully enclosed and interlocked system allows for safe operation in any laboratory environment without specialized goggles.
Specifications
| Excitation Lasers | 532 nm (100 mW) and/or 785 nm (90 mW) |
| Spectral Resolution | 1.6 cm⁻¹ (@532 nm) or 0.6 cm⁻¹ (@785 nm) |
| Spatial Resolution | 350 nm (X, Y) x 1000 nm (Z) |
| Imaging Modes | Point, Depth profile, 3D, and Smart Random Walk |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 30 cm x 86 cm x 45 cm |
| Calibration | Automated with internal Neon lamp and Silicon reference |