Open AccessLow noise, self-phase-modulation-enabled femtosecond fiber sources tunable in 740-1236 nm for wide two-photon fluorescence microscopy applications
Author(s) -
Lu Ting Chou,
Yucheng Liu,
Dong Lin Zhong,
Wei Lin,
Hao Hsuan Hung,
Chao Jin Chan,
Zi Ping Chen,
Shih Hsuan Chia
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
biomedical optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.362
H-Index - 86
ISSN - 2156-7085
DOI - 10.1364/boe.422668
Subject(s) - femtosecond , materials science , optics , ultrashort pulse , microscopy , self phase modulation , laser , optoelectronics , fiber laser , photon counting , sapphire , photon , nonlinear optics , physics
We have demonstrated widely tunable Yb:fiber-based laser sources, aiming to replace Ti:sapphire lasers for the nJ-level ultrafast applications, especially for the uses of nonlinear light microscopy. We investigated the influence of different input parameters to obtain an expansive spectral broadening, enabled by self-phase modulation and further reshaped by self-steepening, in the normal dispersion regime before the fiber damage. We also discussed the compressibility and intensity fluctuations of the demonstrated pulses, to reach the transform-limited duration with a very low intensity noise. Most importantly, we have demonstrated clear two-photon fluorescence images from UV-absorbing fluorophores to deep red dye stains.