Starch-based backwards SHG for in situ MEFISTO pulse characterization in multiphoton microscopy.

We report a simple methodology to provide complete pulse characterization at the sample plane of a two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscope. This is achieved by using backward propagating second-harmonic generation (SHG) from starch granules. Without any modification to the microscope, SHG-autocorrelation traces were obtained by using a single starch granule that was placed alongside the biological specimen being imaged. A spectrally resolved SHG autocorrelation was acquired by placing a spectrometer at the output port of the microscope. Complete in situ pulse information is then directly retrieved in an analytical way using the measurement of electric filed by interferometric spectral trace observation (MEFISTO) technique.