title: Quantitative characterization of aqueous solutions probed by the third-harmonic generation microscopy.
abstract: Third-harmonic microscopy is one of the emerging techniques for noninvasive microscopic imaging of biological structures. We use a novel technique for nonlinear optical material characterization and study the effect of different environment and the structural sensitivity of the third harmonic. In particular, a transformation of collagen in solution is observed for the first time using third-harmonic generation. We also study the ultimate limits of the third harmonic to detect micro- and nanoscopic features inside living cells and find that structures as small as 50 nm can be detected using the current level of technology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shcheslavskiy
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Petrov
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saltiel
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Yakovlev
mesh_terms: D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D008433:Mathematics; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D003094:Collagen