Developing compact multiphoton systems using femtosecond fiber lasers

We implement a fiber-delivered compact femtosecond fiber laser at 1030-nm wavelength in multiphoton imaging. The laser pulse duration is 150 fs, the average power is 200 mW, and the repetition rate is 40 MHz. The laser measures 200 x 160 x 45 mm in size and its output is delivered through a photonic bandgap fiber. Intrinsic second-harmonic generation signal is excited from rat tail tendon and human skin samples. Two-photon excited fluorescence signal is obtained from human skin tissues stained with exogenous fluorophore. Our results show that femtosecond fiber lasers at 1030-nm wavelength have significant potential in developing compact, all-fiber-based, portable multiphoton systems and endoscopes. (C) 2009 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. [DOI: 10.1117/1.3153842]