Abstract

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscope has enabled label-free rapid Raman spectral imaging. Recent studies have reported video-rate imaging with a pixel clock of over 10 MHz [1, 2]. However, these systems require expensive and bulky devices such as a solid-state laser or an optical parametric amplifier. On the other hand, fiber lasers are used for low-cost and compact systems although they are noisy compared with solid-state lasers. In order to reduce the noise, collinear balanced detection (CBD) has been proposed [3], although it has been performed at low data acquisition rate. Here, we demonstrate video-rate spectral imaging with a home-made Er-doped fiber laser (Er-FL) using the CBD technique.

© 2014 Japan Society of Applied Physics, Optical Society of America