Fluorescence detection instrument with orthogonal laser entry

A detector assembly for analysis of light emitted, the detector assembly comprising:

• a dichroic filter array having a plurality of dichroic filters arranged in two rows in parallel, wherein said dichroic filters are located in slots, and wherein each row of slots includes a plurality of evenly spaced slots;
• a first optical alignment assembly having a longitudinal axis and configured to generate a first output beam having a first projected optical axis, wherein the first projected optical axis of the first output light beam, when reflected between the rows of dichroic filters, lies in a plane;
• and
• a second optical alignment assembly having a longitudinal axis and configured to generate a second output beam having a second projected optical axis wherein the second projected optical axis of the second output light beam, when reflected between the rows of dichroic filters, lies in the plane,
• wherein the first output beam enters the dichroic filter array at a first location and the second output beam enters the dichroic filter array at a second location, and
• wherein the first optical alignment assembly and the second output alignment assembly are positioned such that their respective longitudinal axes are each oriented orthogonal to the plane.

An optical alignment assembly for introducing an output beam into an array of dichroic filters, the optical assembly comprising:

• a housing having a longitudinal axis and configured to receive an optical fiber;
• a collimating lens configured to collimate a beam of light emitted by the optical fiber;
• a rotatable housing member having a goniometric tilt;
• a beam reflecting element attached to the rotatable housing member;
• and
• an alignment system utilizing two adjustment mechanisms, wherein a first adjustment mechanism adjusts rotation of the rotatable housing member and a second adjustment mechanism adjusts the goniometric tilt of the rotatable housing member,
• wherein when the output beam is introduced into the array of dichroic filters, the output beam is reflected by the array of dichroic filters and lies in a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

A method of demultiplexing a beam of light transmitted by an optical fiber, comprising:

• a) collimating the beam of light with a collimating lens;
• b) redirecting the beam of light with a beam reflecting element such that the beam of light enters a dichroic filter array having a plurality dichroic filters arranged in two rows in parallel, and is reflected within the dichroic filter array such that the reflected beam of light lies within a plane;
• and
• c) separating the beam of light into its component wavelengths by reflecting the beam of light off at least one of the dichroic filters,
• wherein the beam of light, prior to being redirected by the beam reflecting element, is approximately orthogonal to the plane of the reflected beam of light.