Quantitative characterization of aqueous solutions probed by the third-harmonic generation microscopy.
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.
Shcheslavskiy
V
V
Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA.
Petrov
G I
GI
Saltiel
S
S
Yakovlev
V V
VV
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*
D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D003094:Collagen