GB2410122A - Tunable source of electromagnetic radiation - Google Patents
Tunable source of electromagnetic radiation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2410122A GB2410122A GB0400973A GB0400973A GB2410122A GB 2410122 A GB2410122 A GB 2410122A GB 0400973 A GB0400973 A GB 0400973A GB 0400973 A GB0400973 A GB 0400973A GB 2410122 A GB2410122 A GB 2410122A
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- radiation
- pulses
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- wavelength
- tuned
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- 230000005670 electromagnetic radiation Effects 0.000 title claims description 9
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 95
- 230000003595 spectral effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 230000009021 linear effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 26
- 230000001427 coherent effect Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000000386 microscopy Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000000799 fluorescence microscopy Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000001429 visible spectrum Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000001069 Raman spectroscopy Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000004624 confocal microscopy Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000004163 cytometry Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 claims 2
- LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCO LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004611 spectroscopical analysis Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005374 Kerr effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010870 STED microscopy Methods 0.000 description 1
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000003321 amplification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- QGJOPFRUJISHPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N carbon disulfide Substances S=C=S QGJOPFRUJISHPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000003759 clinical diagnosis Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003271 compound fluorescence assay Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001839 endoscopy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000005350 fused silica glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000013537 high throughput screening Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009022 nonlinear effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003199 nucleic acid amplification method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052594 sapphire Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010980 sapphire Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001360 synchronised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001131 transforming effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/02—Details
- G01J3/10—Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/35—Non-linear optics
- G02F1/3511—Self-focusing or self-trapping of light; Light-induced birefringence; Induced optical Kerr-effect
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/12—Generating the spectrum; Monochromators
- G01J2003/1282—Spectrum tailoring
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/02—Details
- G01J3/0205—Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows
- G01J3/0229—Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. optical manifolds, diffusers, windows using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/62—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light
- G01N21/63—Systems in which the material investigated is excited whereby it emits light or causes a change in wavelength of the incident light optically excited
- G01N21/64—Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
- G01N21/645—Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
- G01N2021/6484—Optical fibres
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/35—Non-linear optics
- G02F1/353—Frequency conversion, i.e. wherein a light beam is generated with frequency components different from those of the incident light beams
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
- G02F1/35—Non-linear optics
- G02F1/365—Non-linear optics in an optical waveguide structure
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F2203/00—Function characteristic
- G02F2203/05—Function characteristic wavelength dependent
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- G02F2203/00—Function characteristic
- G02F2203/12—Function characteristic spatial light modulator
Abstract
A diode-pumped solid state laser 4 produces an output of pulses of laser light which is transmitted through a microstructured optical fibre where it undergoes non-linear optical effects so as to produce pulses of continuum radiation. These pulses of continuum radiation are spatially separated by a diffraction grating 10 and then selectively modulated by a spatial like modulator 14 so as to generate pulses of tuned radiation having a tuned spectral profile.
Description
241ol22
TUNABLE SOURCE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
This invention relates to the field of tunable spatially coherent light sources.
More particularly, this invention relates to tunable spatially coherent light sources s with a high intensity output at visible and ultraviolet wavelengths.
Tunable spatially coherent laser light sources are desirable for many imaging applications, including microscopy and endoscopy, for display applications and for spectroscopy. It is known to filter a thermal white light source to provide almost 0 arbitrary wavelengths. However, the spatial spectral brightness of such systems is too low for many applications, including projection scanning displays and confocal microscopy. Such applications typically require a laser radiation source because of the requirement for high intensity spatially coherent radiation.
There are a limited number of low-cost and convenient lasers which operate in the visible spectrum. This has the result that most imaging and display systems are constrained to use a disadvantageously limited number of gas laser or solid-state laser lines which are available within the required spectral range. These problems limit the information to be gained in imaging systems and can compromise displays. This limitation has a particularly significant impact upon fluorescence microscopy since many biological fluorophores absorb light in the UV and visible range. The limitation has a particular impact on fluorescence microscopy particularly when one considers most biological fluorphors exhibit W to visible features.
High peak powers associated with ultra-short pulses can be exploited to use non-linear optical effects so as to generate tunable radiation. For example, continuum radiation may be generated from a quasi-monochromatic source and then tunable radiation can be realised by selecting a desired portion of the continuum. Tunable radiation can then be conveniently realised by selecting a desired portion of the continuum. The selected portion of the continuum then can be amplified using a further gain medium or parametric amplifier to produce a useful intensity of tuned radiation. Such systems are typically complex and expensive being based upon dye or Ti;Sapphire laser systems.
Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a tunable source of electromagnetic radiation, said tunable source comprising: a laser operable to generate pulses of laser radiation at variable wavelengths, including throughout the visible spectrum; a continuum generating medium through which said pulses of laser radiation are transmitted, said pulses of laser radiation having an intensity such that non-linear optical interaction between said pulses of laser radiation and said continuum generating medium generates pulses of continuum radiation extending across a continuum of wavelength values; and lo a wavelength selector operable to select one or more spectral components of said pulses of continuum radiation to form pulses of tuned radiation.
The invention recognises that the technique of continuum generation and wavelength selection can be extended to provide tunable radiation in the visible and shorter wavelengths, e.g. less than 800 nm, despite the prejudice in the field which would point away from deliberately rejecting a large portion of the radiation present within the continuum pulses (use of a wavelength selector in such short wavelength environments where the optical powers available are normally too low would point away from rejecting any of the available radiation). The development of high power lasers operating at less than 800 nm means it is possible to obtain a useful power output of tuned radiation without any need for the expense and complication of a further gain medium or parametric amplification.
Whilst it will be appreciated that the continuum generating medium could take a variety of forms, including liquids, such as ethylene glycol, CS2, and solids, such as fused silica or sapphire, it is more efficient to use optical fibres where the light guiding behaviour maintains a long nonlinear interaction length so improving the efficiency of continuum generation.
The use of microstructured optical fibres further enhances the continuum generation by making it easier to transmit the pulses of laser radiation and the pulses of continuum radiation within a single spatial mode (or modes) of the optical fibre.
The efficiency of the non-linear interaction generating the continuum is further enhanced when the pulses of laser radiation have a wavelength close to a wavelength of zero chromatic dispersion within the continuum generating medium.
Whilst it will be appreciated that the wavelength selector could take a variety of different forms, preferred embodiments include a dispersive [this could be a refractive prism or a diffractive grating or even a combination of both] element operable to spatially separate different wavelength components of the continuum radiation. Preferably this is used with a spatial light modulator, which may be lo reflective or transmissive.
In preferred embodiments a feedback system may be provided which is responsive to at least one detected spectral characteristic of the tuned pulses to control the action of the wavelength selector. In this way the wavelength selector can be accurately adjusted to produce an actively controlled spectral characteristic within the pulses of tuned radiation as well as enabling the system to provide an advantageous degree of stability.
Whilst various different laser sources may be used, it is preferred to use a diode-pumped solid state laser as these are able to provide high power pulses of laser radiation which produce a large degree of non- linear interaction to enable continuum generation.
It is desirable, but not essential that the pulses of tuned radiation have a desired wavelength greater than that of the pulses of laser radiation since the non linear effects generally produce more energy at longer wavelengths, particularly in guided geometries.
It is also possible and in some circumstances desirable, to provide a wavelength selector which is able to adjust the relative phases between different spatial components of the pulses of tuned radiation, such as by varying the different optical path lengths of different spectral components or other such techniques.
Whilst the tuned radiation produced by the present techniques has a wide variety of different uses it is particular well suited for use within fluorescence lifetime imaging, multi-photon microscopy, coherent antiStokes Raman scattering, stimulated emission depletion microscopy, confocal microscopy, image display and cytometry.
Viewed from another aspect the present invention provides a method of generating tuned electromagnetic radiation, said method comprising the steps of: generating pulses of laser radiation having at variable wavelengths, including throughout the visible spectrum; lo transmitting said pulses of laser radiation through a continuum generating medium, said pulses of laser radiation having an intensity such that non-linear optical interaction between said pulses of laser radiation and said continuum generating medium generates pulses of continuum radiation extending across a continuum of wavelength values; and selecting with a wavelength selector one or more spectral components of said pulses of continuum radiation to form pulses of tuned radiation.
Examples of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a tunable source of electromagnetic radiation in accordance with one example embodiment; Figures 2 and 3 schematically illustrate more detail of how tuning may be 2s performed; Figure 4 schematically illustrates a second example embodiment; and Figure 5 schematically illustrates a further example embodiment using feedback to control a spatial light modulator.
Figure 1 illustrates a tunable source of radiation 2 which includes a diode pumped solid-state laser 4 generating monochromatic pulses of laser radiation. The laser 4 may be a passively mode-locked diode-pumped solidstate laser producing pulses in the range of approximately 100 Is to tops duration at a repetition rate of approximately 80 MHz with average powers in the range of lOO's mW tolO's of Watts and with a wavelength of approximately 1.06,um. Harmonic generation using these lasers can then produce pulses with up to approximately 4 Watts average power at 355nm and multi-watt powers at 532nm. These visible wavelengths are suited for visible continuum generation so as to provide a tunable source of visible radiation.
The laser pulses output from the laser 4 are coupled into a microstructured optical fibre 6 so as to propagate within predominately a single spatial mode along the lo optical fibre 6. The high intensity of the pulses within the optical fibre 6 results in non-linear optical effects, such as the optical Kerr effect, stimulated Roman scattering, and others which have the result of transforming the wavelength of the laser pulses into a continuum of both longer wavelengths and, to a lesser extent, shorter wavelengths. In some favourable situations, the characteristics of the optical fibre 6 may be chosen such that it has a wavelength of zero chromatic dispersion substantially corresponding to the wavelengths of the input laser pulses.
The pulses of continuum radiation output from the optical fibre 6 are collimated by a lens and then diffracted by a diffraction grating 10 and focused by a further lens 12 onto a spatial light modulator 14. In this way, wavelengths of a different value are focused at different points upon the spatial light modulator 14.
Thus, by controlling the transmission (or in other embodiments the reflection) of the spatial modulator 14 at different points a desired spectral characteristic can be imposed upon the pulses of radiation. The radiation thus selectively modulated which is transmitted through the spatial modulator 14 is collimated again with a lens 16 and forms pulses of tuned radiation having a spectral profile imposed upon them as controlled by the spatial modulator 14.
Figures 2 and 3 schematically illustrate in more detail how the tuning may be performed. The input to the tuning section is assumed to be spatially coherent broad band (white) light source _ for instance as generated in the core of a mono-mode fibre.
For the tuned source to be most useful it should be possible for that too to be delivered through a pinhole or the core of a mono-mode fibre. The essential mechanism for achieving this is to project an image of the input source onto a spatially selective element (such as a spatial light modulator) but to include in that imaging section a dispersive element such as a prism or grating that spreads the image of the source across the selective element. In this way a different wavelength component of the source then falls on each pixel of the selective element which can s then alter its amplitude and/or phase. To reconstruct a tuned point source the light from the selective element must be imaged onto the output point again through a dispersive element, which this time operates in reverse to recombine the spread spectrum into a single tuned point.
lo Figure 2 shows such a system which needs only a linear selective element to function. Of course, when the selective element is reflective then the input section can, to some extent,serve as the output section and hence the number of components may be reduced.
In a second example embodiment as schematically illustrated in Figure 3, the system can be arranged with cylindrical optics which in one direction (the x-direction say) operates identically to that shown in Figure 2. However in the other direction, (the y-direction) the light from the source is collimated across the selective element as shown in Figure 3.
In this arrangement the 2-dimensional array selective element actually displays a diffraction grating in the y-direction which is different for each wavelength (in the x-direction). The gratings can be used to steer the output light to different ports to give multiple outputs with different tuned spectral characteristics. A further advantage of this system is that the device can operate at a high contrast ratio and offer both amplitude and phase modulation irrespective of the exact type of selective element (spatial light modulator) used as these are all controlled by the grating pattern written onto the element rather than the direct modulation imparted by the element.
Again this system can operate in double pass to reduce the number of required elements.
Figure 4 schematically represents the system of Figure 1. The microstructured optical fibre is indicated as having a zero group velocity of dispersion in the visible spectrum so as to render it more efficient for continuum generation in this wavelength range.
Figure 5 illustrates a modified version of the system of Figure 4, but in this s case including a feedback system comprised of a part silvered mirror 18, a radiation monitor 20 and a computer 22, A portion of the pulses of tuned radiation is directed by the part silvered mirror 18 to the monitor 20 where it is spectrally analysed in conjunction with the computer 22. The desired spectral characteristics of the pulses of tuned radiation is compared with those of the pulses of tuned radiation being 0 generated and the spatial light modulator 14 adjusted by the computer 22 using electronic signals so as to match the desired and actual spectral characteristics.
It will be appreciated that the spatial light modulator can be considered to be formed of a collection of selectively opened or closed apertures through which a different spectral component may be allowed to pass with adjustable attenuation. By adjusting the optical path length associated with each of these different apertures, the relative phases of the different spectral components may also be controlled in a manner that may be desired for the pulses of tuned radiation that are generated.
It will be appreciated that the present embodiments generate pulses of tuned radiations. Such a pulsed output is ideal for many applications, such as time-resolved microscopy, including fluorescence lifetime imaging, multi-photon microscopy, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, stimulated emission depletion etc. For other applications, such as confocal microscopy, display technology, cytometry, etc the 2s main requirement is for tunable radiation and the system is often insensitive to whether this is continuous wave or pulsed radiation.
One particular application of this technique is to create pairs of synchronised ultra short like pulses at different wavelengths for pumpprobe spectroscopy and for realising microscopic imaging with superresolution through the technique of stimulated emission depletion or similar techniques. This same approach can be applied to coherent antiStokes Raman scattering and to other imaging modalities. It may also be applied to coherent control applications.
The systems incorporating computer feedback control of the spatial light modulator can be configured such that the spectral output is iteratively changed to obtain an optimum output signal for a desired application. As an example, the spectral characteristics of the output could be optimised to minimise fluorescence yield for microscopy or coherent control applications. Alternatively the spectral optimisation could be used to maximise fluorescence contrast between different components of a sample, e.g. for clinical diagnosis using fluorescence or for fluorescence assays that may be used for high throughput screening. The spatial properties of the output beam may also be adjusted by the spatial light modulator, or lo an additional spatial light modulator, at the output. Such a spatially controlled tuned radiation is useful in various advanced microscopy techniques, including the imaging of anisotropy. The ability to produce multiple independently tunable excitation beams offers the possibility of performing excitation ratio imaging and the ability to separate different signals from different florescent molecules.
Claims (28)
1. A tunable source of electromagnetic radiation, said tunable source comprising: a laser operable to generate pulses of laser radiation at variable wavelengths, including throughout the visible spectrum; a continuum generating medium through which said pulses of laser radiation are transmitted, said pulses of laser radiation having an intensity such that non-linear optical interaction between said pulses of laser radiation and said continuum lo generating medium generates pulses of continuum radiation extending across a continuum of wavelength values; and a wavelength selector operable to select one or more spectral components of said pulses of continuum radiation to form pulses of tuned radiation.
2. A tunable source as claimed in claim 1, wherein said continuum generating medium is an optical fibre.
3. A tunable source as claimed in claim 2, wherein said optical fibre is a micro structured opti c al fibre.
4. A tunable source as claimed in any one of claim 2 and 3, wherein said pulses of laser radiation and said pulses of continuum radiation propagate within a single spatial mode within said optical fibre.
2s
5. A tunable source as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pulses of laser radiation have a wavelength substantially equal to a wavelength of zero chromatic dispersion within said continuum generating medium.
6. A tunable source as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said wavelength selector includes a diffractive element operable to spatially separate different wavelength components of said pulses of continuum radiation.
7. A tunable radiation source as claimed in claim 6, wherein said wavelength selector includes a spatial light modulator operable to selectively modulate said different wavelength components to form said pulses of tuned radiation.
s
8. A tunable radiation source as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a feedback system controls operation of said wavelength selector in dependence upon one or more detected spectral characteristics of said pulses of tuned radiation.
lo
9. A tunable radiation source as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a feedback system controls operation of said wavelength selector in dependence upon one or more desired outcomes of an experiment or procedure.
10. A tunable radiation source as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said laser is a diode-pumped solid state laser.
11. A tunable radiation source as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pulses of tuned radiation have a wavelength greater than that of said pulses of laser radiation.
12. A tunable radiation source as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said wavelength selector is operable to adjust relative phase between different spectral components of said pulses of tuned radiation.
13. A tunable radiation source as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pulses of tuned radiation are used to perform one of: fluorescence imaging, including spectrally-resolved fluorescence imaging and/or fluorescence lifetime imaging; multi-photon microscopy; coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering; stimulated emission depletion; confocal microscopy; image display; and cytometry.
14. A method of generating tuned electromagnetic radiation, said method comprising the steps of: generating pulses of laser radiation at variable wavelengths, including throughout the visible spectrum; transmitting said pulses of laser radiation through a continuum generating medium, said pulses of laser radiation having an intensity such that non-linear optical interaction between said pulses of laser radiation and said continuum generating medium generates pulses of continuum radiation extending across a continuum of lo wavelength values; and selecting with a wavelength selector one or more spectral components of said pulses of continuum radiation to form pulses of tuned radiation.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said continuum generating medium is an optical fibre.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said optical fibre is a microstructured optical fibre.
17. A method as claimed in any one of claim 15 and 16, wherein said pulses of laser radiation and said pulses of continuum radiation propagate within a single spatial mode within said optical fibre.
18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein said pulses of 2s laser radiation have a wavelength substantially equal to a wavelength of zero chromatic dispersion within said continuum generating medium.
19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein said wavelength selector includes a diffractive element operable to spatially separate different wavelength components of said pulses of continuum radiation.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said wavelength selector includes a spatial light modulator operable to selectively modulate said different wavelength components to form said pulses of tuned radiation.
21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein a feedback system controls operation of said wavelength selector in dependence upon one or more detected spectral characteristics of said pulses of tuned radiation.
22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein a feedback system controls operation of said wavelength selector in dependence upon one or more desired outcomes of an experiment or procedure.
lo
23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein said laser is a diode-pumped solid state laser.
24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein said pulses of tuned radiation have a wavelength greater than that of said pulses of laser radiation.
25. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 24, wherein said wavelength selector is operable to adjust relative phase between different spectral components of said pulses of tuned radiation.
26. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 25, wherein said pulses of tuned radiation are used to perform one of: fluorescence imaging, including spectrally-resolved fluorescence imaging and/or fluorescence lifetime imaging; multi-photon microscopy; coherent anti- Stokes Raman scattering; stimulated emission depletion; confocal microscopy; image display; and cytometry.
27. A tunable source of electromagnetic radiation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
28. A method of generating tuned electromagnetic radiation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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GB0400973A GB2410122A (en) | 2004-01-16 | 2004-01-16 | Tunable source of electromagnetic radiation |
PCT/GB2004/005417 WO2005068979A1 (en) | 2004-01-16 | 2004-12-24 | Tunable source of electromagnetic radiation and its use in fluorescence imaging |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0400973A GB2410122A (en) | 2004-01-16 | 2004-01-16 | Tunable source of electromagnetic radiation |
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GB0400973D0 GB0400973D0 (en) | 2004-02-18 |
GB2410122A true GB2410122A (en) | 2005-07-20 |
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GB0400973A Withdrawn GB2410122A (en) | 2004-01-16 | 2004-01-16 | Tunable source of electromagnetic radiation |
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GB (1) | GB2410122A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005068979A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102009053306A1 (en) * | 2009-11-12 | 2011-05-26 | Ben-Gurion University Of The Negev | Method for producing excitation radiation for multi species analyzing of e.g. drugs in forensic medicine, involves combining and emitting converted radiations of partial radiation beams as excitation radiations to sample |
EP2413019A1 (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2012-02-01 | Abengoa Solar New Technologies, S.A. | Variable-spectrum solar simulator |
DE102010037190A1 (en) * | 2010-08-27 | 2012-03-01 | Leica Microsystems Cms Gmbh | Device for temporally shifting white light laser pulses |
DE202013006817U1 (en) * | 2013-07-30 | 2014-10-31 | Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Stiftung des öffentlichen Rechts | Pulsed laser light source for fluorescence excitation |
CN104359554A (en) * | 2014-12-04 | 2015-02-18 | 北京振兴计量测试研究所 | Ultraviolet spectrum-tunable light source |
EP3611484A1 (en) * | 2018-08-17 | 2020-02-19 | Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen | Device for providing light for coherent anti-stokes raman spectroscopy |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB0800936D0 (en) | 2008-01-19 | 2008-02-27 | Fianium Ltd | A source of optical supercontinuum generation having a selectable pulse repetition frequency |
CN102305782A (en) * | 2011-08-10 | 2012-01-04 | 浙江大学 | Method and device for analyzing fluorescent correlation spectroscopy based on medium microsphere |
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US4972423A (en) * | 1988-12-30 | 1990-11-20 | Alfano Robert R | Method and apparatus for generating ultrashort light pulses |
US20020009260A1 (en) * | 2000-06-17 | 2002-01-24 | Holger Birk | Illuminating device and microscope |
US20020067747A1 (en) * | 2000-04-14 | 2002-06-06 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Method and apparatus for arbitrary waveform generation using photonics |
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DE10150542B4 (en) * | 2001-10-12 | 2007-03-29 | Leica Microsystems Cms Gmbh | Method for fluorescence microscopy |
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2004
- 2004-01-16 GB GB0400973A patent/GB2410122A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2004-12-24 WO PCT/GB2004/005417 patent/WO2005068979A1/en active Application Filing
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WO2005068979A1 (en) | 2005-07-28 |
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