Applications of Nonlinear Optical Fibers and Solitons in Biophotonics and Microscopy

This chapter deals with applications of nonlinear photonic-crystal fiber (PCF) in biophotonics and microscopy. In particular, it deals with applications in conjunction with the following microscopy modalities, all of which are now commonly used in many biological communities: two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy; second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy; two modalities based on coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), picosecond CARS (ps-CARS) microscopy and multiplex CARS (MCARS) microscopy; stimulated-Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy; and pump-probe microscopy. The chapter gives the main equations and considerations of each microscopy modality that assess the signal generated by the underlying nonlinear interaction as a function of the light source parameters. It shows how the one-beam soliton light source can be put to use in TPEF microscopy and SHG microscopy. It also shows how the two-beam soliton light source can be put to use in MCARS microscopy, ps-CARS microscopy, SRS microscopy, and pump-probe microscopy.