Confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy with a visible continuum source.

Confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy is demonstrated using a photonic crystal fiber-based excitation source. A 38 cm-long section of photonic crystal fiber is pumped with femtosecond pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser, and the resultant visible continuum is selectively filtered to provide the peak excitation wavelengths required for a range of fluorescently labeled biological tissue.