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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: Michael Duncan
  • Vol. 12, Iss. 18 — Sep. 6, 2004
  • pp: 4303–4312

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 12 > Issue 18 > Page 4303

Wavefront-division lateral shearing autocorrelator for ultrafast laser microscopy

Franco Quercioli, Bruno Tiribilli, and Massimo Vassalli  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 12, Issue 18, pp. 4303-4312 (2004)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OPEX.12.004303


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Abstract

Nonlinear optical microscopy is a new and rapidly growing technique within which ultrafast laser technology finds a wide range of applications. Pulse widening, due to the microscope optics, is an issue of major concern for nonlinear excitation efficiency. We herewith describe a novel, simple and inexpensive autocorrelation technique to characterize the laser temporal behavior at the microscope focal plane. The method is based on a wavefront-division lateral shearing interferometer which is inserted into the microscope optical path like an ordinary filter, while a spatially uniform fluorescent specimen is observed. The two-photon excited fluorescent image provides the second-order autocorrelation curve.

© 2004 Optical Society of America

OCIS Codes
(180.2520) Microscopy : Fluorescence microscopy
(180.5810) Microscopy : Scanning microscopy
(190.4180) Nonlinear optics : Multiphoton processes
(320.7100) Ultrafast optics : Ultrafast measurements

ToC Category:
Research Papers

History
Original Manuscript: August 5, 2004
Revised Manuscript: August 30, 2004
Published: September 6, 2004

Citation
Franco Quercioli, Bruno Tiribilli, and Massimo Vassalli, "Wavefront-division lateral shearing autocorrelator for ultrafast laser microscopy," Opt. Express 12, 4303-4312 (2004)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-12-18-4303


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