Abstract

Nonlinear imaging applications including two-photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF) imaging demand com-pact short-pulse lasers with high peak power P_pk and high average power P_avg [1,2]. In particular, the expected detected nonlinear signal intensity is commonly quantified by the figure of merit (FOM) defined as the squared pulse peak power times the duty cycle (<P_pk >² f_repΔt) for a stable pulse train and the mean pulse peak power is well defined by < P_pk >= (P_avg f_psf)/(f_repΔt) with the average optical power P_avg, the pulse repetition rate (RR) f_rep, the pulse width Δt and the pulse shape factor f_psf = 0.94 for Gaussian pulse shapes [2].

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