Open AccessFiber-based optical parametric oscillator for high resolution coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy
Author(s) -
Thomas Gottschall,
Tobias Meyer,
Martin Baumgartl,
Benjamin Dietzek,
Jürgen Popp,
Jens Limpert,
Andreas Tünnermann
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.021921
Subject(s) - optics , raman scattering , picosecond , optical parametric oscillator , four wave mixing , fiber laser , materials science , laser , coherent anti stokes raman spectroscopy , photonic crystal fiber , optical fiber , raman spectroscopy , physics , nonlinear optics
Imaging based on coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) relies on the interaction of high peak-power, synchronized picosecond pulses with narrow bandwidths and a well-defined frequency difference. Recently a new type of fiber-based CARS laser source based on four-wave-mixing (FWM) has been developed. In order to enhance its spectral resolution and efficiency, a FWM based fiber optical parametric oscillator (FOPO) is proposed in this work. The source delivers 180 mW with 5.6 kW peak power for the CARS pump and 130 mW with 2.9 kW peak power for the Stokes signal. CARS resonances around 2850 and 2930 cm(-1) can be resolved with a resolution of 1 cm(-1) enabling high-contrast, spectrally resolved CARS imaging of biological tissue.