Nonlinear optical microscopy at wavelengths exceeding 1.4 microm using a synchronously pumped femtosecond-pulsed optical parametric oscillator.

A singly resonant femtosecond-pulsed synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (SPOPO) is reported that provides a wavelength-tunable alternative to the Cr:forsterite source for nonlinear microscopy applications. Periodically poled lithium niobate within an external resonator was synchronously pumped by a commercial fs-pulsed Nd:YLF laser source to provide fs-pulsed continuously tunable radiation from 1.45 to 1.63 microm. Third harmonic generation (THG) microscopy and three-photon laser scanning fluorescence microscopy (3PLSM) of a range of samples were subsequently performed using this long-wavelength SPOPO source. The ability to tune the excitation wavelength delivered to the sample significantly improved the efficiency of both the 3PLSM and THG imaging experiments.