Upconversion fiber-optic confocal microscopy under near-infrared pumping.
We present a simple upconversion fiber-optic confocal microscope design using a near-infrared laser for pumping of a rare-earth-doped glass powder. The nonlinear optical frequency conversion process is highly efficient with more than 2% upconversion fluorescence efficiency at a near-infrared pumping wavelength of 1.55 microm. The upconversion confocal design allows the use of conventional Si detectors and 1.55 microm near-infrared pump light. The lateral and axial resolutions of the system were equal to or better than 1.10 and 13.11 microm, respectively.
Kim
Do-Hyun
DH
Division of Physics, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA. do-hyun.kim@fda.hhs.gov
Kang
Jin U
JU
Ilev
Ilko K
IK
D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D055100:Optical Fibers; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods