Towards A Tunable Fiber Source For Coherent Raman Imaging

We demonstrate a fiber-based two-color source of picosecond pulses for coherent Raman scattering (CRS) microscopy. An Yb-doped fiber laser combined with a divided-pulse amplifier produce up to 3 W of power tunable from 1030 nm to 1040 nm. A normal dispersion photonic crystal fiber is used to blue-shift the pulses through seeded four-wave mixing. Pulses with up to 150 mW of average power are produced, tunable between 770 nm and 800 nm. Imaging of animal tissue and cells is demonstrated.