Wavelength-switchable active mode-locked Raman fiber laser in 1.7 μm band for photoacoustic generation (Conference Presentation)

Abstract

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is a technique for detecting ultrasonic signals occurred from the optical absorption properties of biological tissues. The contrast of PAI is determined by the degree of optical absorption properties of biological tissues. PAI uses absorption contrast to distinguish endogenous factors to image biological tissues. Among various endogenous contrast agents, a lipid with high absorption at 1.7 μm is one of the main agents for identifying diseases such as arteriosclerosis and myocardial infarction. We present a high-speed wavelength-switchable active mode-locked Raman fiber laser using active mode-locking (AML) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in a 1.7 um band for photoacoustic generation of lipids. the wavelength of 1.7 um band is oscillated to generate high pulse energy on the order of hundreds of nano-Joules. PA signals of lipids can be acquired to prove the feasibility of label-free PAI of lipids.