title: Multi-photon microscopy with a low-cost and highly efficient Cr:LiCAF laser.
abstract: Multi-photon microscopy (MPM) is a powerful tool for biomedical imaging, enabling molecular contrast and integrated structural and functional imaging on the cellular and subcellular level. However, the cost and complexity of femtosecond laser sources that are required in MPM are significant hurdles to widespread adoption of this important imaging modality. In this work, we describe femtosecond diode pumped Cr:LiCAF laser technology as a low cost alternative to femtosecond Ti:Sapphire lasers for MPM. Using single mode pump diodes which cost only $150 each, a diode pumped Cr:LiCAF laser generates approximately 70-fs duration, 1.8-nJ pulses at approximately 800 nm wavelengths, with a repetition rate of 100 MHz and average output power of 180 mW. Representative examples of MPM imaging in neuroscience, immunology, endocrinology and cancer research using Cr:LiCAF laser technology are presented. These studies demonstrate the potential of this laser source for use in a broad range of MPM applications.
authors.affiliation: MGH/MIT/HMS Athinuola A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA.
authors.forename: Sava
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakadzić
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Demirbas
authors.forename: Thorsten R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Mempel
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruvinskaya
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Boas
authors.forename: Alphan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sennaroglu
authors.forename: Franz X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Kaertner
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007834:Lasers; D036641:Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton / Q000295:instrumentation*