Multimodal fiber source for nonlinear microscopy based on a dissipative soliton laser

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Biomedical Imaging
• Laser Physics

Background:

• High-energy femtosecond fiber lasers are cost-effective for multiphoton-fluorescence and harmonic-generation imaging.
• Picosecond pulses are optimal for Raman scattering microscopy, necessitating a source offering both pulse durations for multimodal nonlinear microscopy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust fiber laser source capable of generating synchronized picosecond pulse trains for Raman scattering microscopy.
• To adapt existing femtosecond fiber laser technology for multimodal nonlinear microscopy applications.

Main Methods:

• Spectral compression of a high-power femtosecond fiber laser to produce transform-limited picosecond pulses.
• Utilizing these picosecond pulses to pump a fiber optical parametric oscillator (FOPO).

Main Results:

• Successfully generated transform-limited picosecond pulses via spectral compression.
• Developed a robust fiber source delivering synchronized picosecond pulse trains.
• Demonstrated a viable route to a multimodal nonlinear microscopy platform.

Conclusions:

• Spectral compression of femtosecond fiber lasers provides a method for generating picosecond pulses.
• The developed fiber source is suitable for Raman scattering microscopy.
• This system enables multimodal nonlinear microscopy by combining different imaging techniques.