Abstract
We report an endlessly single mode, fiber-optic confocal microscope, based on a large mode area photonic crystal fiber. The microscope confines a very broad spectral range of excitation and emission wavelengths to a single spatial mode in the fiber. Single-mode operation over an optical octave is feasible. At a magnification of 10 and λ = 900 nm, its resolution was measured to be 1.0 μm (lateral) and 2.5 μm (axial). The microscope's use is demonstrated by imaging single photons emitted by individual InAs quantum dots in a pillar microcavity.
Highlights
Confocal microscopy is used in a variety of scientific disciplines, ranging from biology [1] to materials science [2]
This paper presents the design, characterization and operation of a fiber-optic confocal microscope based on an endlessly single-mode photonic crystal fiber (PCF)
The fiber microscope concept presented in this paper could be suitable for multi-photon confocal microscopy [20], a technique usually performed with high peak power sub-ps pulses
Summary
Confocal microscopy is used in a variety of scientific disciplines, ranging from biology [1] to materials science [2]. Quantum dots of CdSe and InP emit around λem = 510 nm and λem = 690 nm respectively [17], illustrating the spread of characteristic emission wavelengths across different systems that have been studied While optics such as mirrors and achromatic lenses are available for wide ranges of wavelengths, conventional single-mode fibers are not single mode over the full extent of these ranges. The fiber microscope concept presented in this paper could be suitable for multi-photon confocal microscopy [20], a technique usually performed with high peak power sub-ps pulses This is performed with free-space optical paths; by using conventional single-mode fiber to deliver the excitation light, the pulses broaden unacceptably due to self-phase modulation. Chromatic confocal microscopy [10] is a technique that could be fiber-enabled through the use of the endlessly single-mode PCF
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