Fiber delivered two-color picosecond source through nonlinear spectral transformation for coherent Raman scattering imaging

Abstract

We demonstrate a two-color, fiber-delivered picosecond source for coherent Raman scattering (CRS) imaging through nonlinear spectral transformation. The wavelength tunable picosecond pump is generated by nonlinear spectral compression of a prechirped femtosecond pulse in a fiber wavelength division multiplexer (WDM). The 1064-nm synchronized picosecond Stokes pulse is generated through pulse carving of a continuous wave laser, nonlinear spectral broadening in 100-m standard single-mode fiber, and subsequent dispersive compression with a fiber compressor. The pump and Stokes beams are combined and delivered by the fiber WDM. CRS imaging of mouse skin is performed to demonstrate the practicality of this source.