Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy with an All-Optical Modulator

Abstract

Nonlinear phenomena occur frequently in nature, and are inherent to many optical systems. Though nonlinearities are often avoided or suppressed in optical resonators, here the authors exploit the nonlinear dynamics in a fiber-feedback optical parametric oscillator to realize an all-optical modulator based on period doubling. They find that this modulator is suitable for high-speed, low-noise stimulated Raman scattering imaging, with performance equal to that using conventional acousto-optical modulation, but without the associated hassles. Among other applications, this approach facilitates label-free imaging of biological samples.