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Flexible and stable optical parametric oscillator based laser system for coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering microscopy
Author(s) -
Zhang Wei,
Parsons Maddy,
McConnell Gail
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.20806
Subject(s) - optical parametric oscillator , raman spectroscopy , laser , raman scattering , optics , raman laser , coherent anti stokes raman spectroscopy , wavelength , microscopy , materials science , microscope , parametric statistics , optoelectronics , chemistry , physics , statistics , mathematics
The characteristics of a stable and flexible laser system based on a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is presented. This OPO can offer very stable operation with both ∼1 ps and ∼300 fs outputs over a broad wavelength range, i.e., 920–1200 nm. Combining the pump tuning with the OPO tuning, a total Raman range of 1900–5500 cm −1 is accessible. For maximum spectral sensitivity, the CARS microsope based on the ps laser system is presented in detail. The lateral resolution of the microscope is diffraction limited to be about 390 nm. Fast wavelength switching (sub‐second) between two Raman vibrational frequencies, i.e., 2848 cm −1 for CH aliphatic vibrations and 3035 cm −1 for CH aromatic vibrations is presented as an example, although this also extends to other Raman frequencies. The possibility of obtaining a multimodal imaging system based on the fs laser system is also discussed. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.