FEATURE ULTRAFAST LASERS
A flash of life W
Manufacturers are increasing the power and wavelength of ultrafast sources used in live tissue imaging to aid researchers, Matthew Dale finds
ith the ability to produce pulses only picoseconds, femtoseconds, or even attoseconds in duration,
ultrafast lasers are able to deliver intense beams of energy to a focal point without causing damage to the materials they are targeting. This has led to a widespread adoption
by researchers in the life sciences field, as it permits the ever more detailed observation of live tissues without the samples being destroyed. Ultrafast laser manufacturers are now
improving these techniques by offering lasers of higher power, longer wavelength and narrower linewidth, which will allow researchers to reach larger depths and levels of detail when examining their live tissue samples.
44 Electro Optics December 2017/January 2018
In the right place at the right time By being able to deliver high photon densities in their intense beams, ultrafast lasers can be used to perform multi-photon three-dimensional imaging. This technique involves the use of a laser pulse focused through the optics of a microscope to instigate the absorption of two or more photons at the exact same time and location in a live tissue sample, creating an excitation effect that can be observed and interpreted. Combining this with other techniques such as optogenetics, it is possible to excite neurons at certain depths in a brain tissue sample and image the surrounding areas. ‘For example, if a mouse is watching a
video, you can image what’s happening in the brain,’ explained Herman Chui, senior director of product marketing at Spectra-
@electrooptics |
www.electrooptics.com
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