Power stability, linewidth, beam quality

MDL-HD-642642 nm red CW laser

642 nm

The MDL-HD-642 is a 642 nm continuous-wave direct diode laser. Electrical current creates optical gain in a semiconductor junction, and the diode generates the laser light directly. Optical feedback selects the oscillating modes, while drive current and junction temperature affect output power and wavelength. Continuous-wave operation provides a sustained beam for experiments that need steady illumination.

Datasheet (PDF)View MDL-HD family Back to CW Lasers Browse all laser models

Specifications

MDL-HD-642

2 specification rows

Wavelength	642 nm
Output / average power	2~4 W
Beam / notes	High Stability Red Laser

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Model selection

Nearby series comparison

Compare MDL-HD-642 with the closest available models in the CW Lasers family.

Selection parameter	MDL-HD-642 (current)	MDL-C-642	TEM-LN-642
Wavelength	642 nm	642 nm	642 nm
Optical power / pulse energy	2~4 W	1~50 mW	1~100 mW

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Compare the MDL-HD-642 with nearby cw lasers across the wavelength range.

Choosing a laser

Guides that put this laser in context

Which specifications decide the experiment, and which ones cost money without changing the result.

Laser emission spectrum, intensity noise traces, and beam quality profiles illustrating the main laser specifications

13 min Spec lab

Laser specifications decoded

Linewidth, spectral width, RIN, M², and coherence length answer five different questions. Translate each into the units your experiment is designed in — and learn which ones not to pay for.

Low-noise laser head and controller of the type specified for optical trapping

Optical trapping

16 min 2 simulations

Choosing a laser for optical tweezers

Why wavelength is decided by photodamage, focal heating, and detector bandwidth rather than trapping force — and what laser noise costs you in piconewtons.

Fluorescently labeled cells in a sharp confocal focal plane

Confocal microscopy

14 min Design lab

Designing a confocal fluorescence excitation system

Connect fluorophores, pinhole size, Airy units, spatial sampling, scan timing, modulation, and power after the fiber in one practical design workflow.