Ultrafast Spectral Tuning of a Fiber Laser for Time-Encoded Multiplex Coherent Raman Scattering Microscopy

• Published in: The journal of physical chemistry. B Vol. 127; no. 11; pp. 2375 - 2380
• Main Authors: Gottschall, Thomas, Meyer-Zedler, Tobias, Eibl, Matthias, Pfeiffer, Tom, Hakert, Hubertus, Schmitt, Michael, Huber, Robert, Tünnermann, Andreas, Limpert, Jens, Popp, Juergen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 23.03.2023
• Subjects: B: Biophysical and Biochemical Systems and Processes
• ISSN: 1520-6106; 1520-5207
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c09115

Coherent Raman scattering microscopy utilizing bioorthogonal tagging approaches like isotope or alkyne labeling allows for a targeted monitoring of spatial distribution and dynamics of small molecules of interest in cells, tissues, and other complex biological matrices. To fully exploit this approach in terms of real-time monitoring of several Raman tags, e.g., to study drug uptake dynamics, extremely fast tunable lasers are needed. Here, we present a laser concept without moving parts and fully electronically controlled for the quasi-simultaneous acquisition of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering images at multiple Raman resonances. The laser concept is based on the combination of a low noise and spectrally narrow Fourier domain mode-locked laser seeding a compact four wave mixing-based high-power fiber-based optical parametric amplifier.