Stuttgart 2012 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 54: Poster 3
Q 54.35: Poster
Thursday, March 15, 2012, 16:30–19:00, Poster.I+II
Towards nonlinear optical microscopy with few-cycle laser pulses — •Wan Hui1, Stefan Gomes da Costa1, Hilton B. de Aguiar1, Gabriel Tempea2, and Andreas Volkmer1 — 13. Institute of Physics, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart 70550, Germany — 2FEMTOLASERS Produktions GmbH, Fernkorngasse 10, 1100 Wien, Austria
With the advent of high-dispersion mirrors, the delivery of tightly focused laser pulses with sub-20-fs pulse durations became feasible with compact and user-friendly compressors. For tightly focused sub-10-fs pulses in the visible and near infrared region, typically active pulse-shaping techniques are employed. Here, we report on pushing the limits of purely passive dispersion management in nonlinear optical microscopy with few-cycle pulses. 6.4-fs pulses from a Ti:Sapphire oscillator were coupled into an inverted microscope. Ultra-broadband dispersive mirrors covering the full laser spectrum pre-compensate the dispersion of high-N.A. objectives, resulting in pulse durations of 9.8 fs at the focus. The pulse duration at the sample was limited by the properties of the microscope's dichroic filter. We have designed a filter that supports the full bandwidth of the laser and introduces negligible dispersion. Its implementation is expected to enable pulse durations closely approaching the sub-7-fs bandwidth limit at the focus.