Systems including fiber laser modules

Abstract

To provide a system in which appropriate pump power is supplied to the stage of a fiber laser module that provides the fundamental light source (source light) of the system.SOLUTION: A system (1) comprising an optical module (10) for supplying a Stokes light, a pump light and a probe light for generating a CARS light is provided. The optical module includes a fiber laser module (30). The fiber laser module includes an oscillator (310), a generator (320), a first amplifier (330), a second amplifier (360), with laser power supplied to the generator as a pump power, to the first preamplifier chirp pulse amplifier as a pump power and to the second preamplifier and chirp pulse amplifier as a pump power.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system including a fiber laser module. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a microscope. This microscope includes a first splitting unit that splits a beam of light from a light source into a first pump beam and a second pump beam, a Stokes light source that receives the second pump beam as an input and outputs a Stokes beam, a multiplexing unit that multiplexes the first pump beam and the Stokes beam to generate a multiplexed beam, a first focusing unit that focuses the multiplexed beam on a sample, a first detector that detects CARS light (having a different wavelength from the multiplexed beam) generated from the sample, a second splitting unit that partially splits at least one of the second pump beam and the Stokes beam as a reference beam, a second multiplexing unit that multiplexes the beam from the sample and the reference beam to generate interference light, and a second detector that detects the interference light. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. WO2014 / 061147 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is desirable to provide adequate pump power to the fiber laser module stage, which provides the basic light source for the system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is a system including an optical module that provides Stokes light, pump light, and probe light for generating CARS light. The optical module includes a fiber laser module that provides a first source light to be converted into the Stokes light and the pump light and a second source light to be converted into the probe light. The fiber laser module includes an oscillator configured to output a mode-locked base laser that is split to generate the first source light and the second source light, a generator configured to stretch the wavelength range of the base laser to generate the first source light, the generator using the first laser power as a pump power, a first amplifier including a first preamplifier for the first source light using the second laser power as a pump power and a first chirped pulse amplifier using the third laser power as a pump power, and a second amplifier including a second preamplifier for the second source light using the fourth laser power as a pump power and a second chirped pulse amplifier using the fifth laser power as a pump power.

[0006] One embodiment disclosed herein is a system comprising an optical module that supplies Stokes light, pump light, and probe light for generating CARS (Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering) light. The optical module includes a fiber laser module that supplies a first source light (light source) that converts the first source light into the Stokes light and pump light, and a second source light (light source) that converts the second source light into the probe light, and an optical plate containing multiple optical elements that convert the first source light into the Stokes light and pump light and the second source light into the probe light. The fiber laser module includes: (i) an oscillator configured to output a mode-locked base laser that is split to generate a first source light and a second source light; (ii) a generator configured to stretch the wavelength range of the base laser to generate the first source light; (iii) a first amplifier including a first preamplifier and a first chirped pulse amplification (CPA) unit for the first source light; and (iv) a second amplifier including a second preamplifier and a second CPA unit for the second source light.

[0007] In this system, a preamplifier is provided for each source light amplifier, and stable and precisely controlled or adjusted source lights for the Stokes light, pump light, and probe light can be generated by adding the laser power of the laser diode to a generator and supplying it to each preamplifier. In one embodiment, these two pulses (first light source (first source light, first source pulse) and second light source (second source light, second source pulse)) from different output arms of the fiber laser module are synchronized in time to within 50 ps. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the system of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows the wavelength plan of the system. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the block diagram of the optical module. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the wavelength plan of the fiber laser module. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows the block diagram of the oscillator, [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a plan view of the compressor; [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the compressor; [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows the temporal structure of the probe pulse, [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows the spectral structure of the probe pulse. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The embodiments herein and their various features and advantageous details will be more fully described with reference to the non-limiting embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate understanding of how the embodiments herein can be implemented and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Therefore, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[0010] Many of the technical terms used in fiber lasers and nonlinear optics are presented herein and abbreviations for them are used. The following list is the abbreviations used herein: FL Fiber Laser OSC Oscillator LD Laser Diode PD Photo Diode EVOA Electronically Controlled Variable Optical Attenuator Electronically Controlled Variable Optical Attenuator SAM Saturable Absorber Mirror FC / APC Ferrule Connector / Angled Physical Contact Ferrule joint / diagonal physical contact (flat polished joint) Er Erbium EDFA Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier Yb Ytterbium Ytterbium YDFA Ytterbium Doped Fiber Amplifier SMF Single Mode Fiber PM Polarization Maintaining HNLF Highly Nonlinear Fiber PCF Photonic Crystal Fiber Photonic Crystal Fiber WDM Wavelength Division Multiplexing CIR Optical Circulator SC Super Continuum SHG Second Harmonic Generation FWHM Full Width Half Maximum CARS Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy CPA Chirped Pulse Amplification CFBG Chirped Fiber Bragg Grating Chirped Fiber Bragg Grating (Chirped Fiber Bragg Grating) IW Isolator / WDM Hybrid Isolator / WDM Hybrid TW Tap / WDM Hybrid Tap / WDM Hybrid TIW Tap / Isolator / WDM Hybrid Tap / Isolator / WDM Hybrid NPD Non-photon Power Dissipation

[0011] 1 shows a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 1 includes an optical module 10 for supplying a Stokes beam 51, a pump beam 52, and a probe beam 53 for generating CARS beam 55 on a target (object, sample) 5. The optical module 10 includes a fiber laser module 30 for supplying a first source beam (first light source, first source pulse, first laser pulse) 31 for converting it into the Stokes beam 51 and the pump beam 52, and a second source beam (second light source, second source pulse, second laser pulse) 32 for converting it into the probe beam 53, and an optical plate 20 including a plurality of optical elements 29 for converting the first source beam 31 into the Stokes beam 51 and the pump beam 52 and the second source beam 32 into the probe beam 53. The system 1 may include a scanning module 40 configured to scan a target 5 with a Stokes beam 51, a pump beam 52, and a probe beam 53 and acquire CARS light 55 from the target 5 via a lens 45 and other optical elements, and a detector 43 configured to detect the CARS light 55 for analysis. The system 1 may include a controller (processor) 60 for controlling the entire system 1. The controller 60 may include other functions such as a laser control module 61 and an analyzer 62.

[0012] Scanning module 40 may be a fingertip scanning interface module, a non-invasive sampler, an invasive sampler, a flow path, or a wearable scanning interface, and each type of scanning interface may be interchangeable.

[0013] FIG. 2 shows an example of a wavelength plan of the CARS optical system 1. The Stokes light 51 is incident on a first range R1 (400 cm ) of wavelengths from 1085 to 1230 nm. -1 ~1500cm -1 ), the pump light 52 has a second wavelength range R2 of 1040 nm, the probe light 53 has a third wavelength range R3 of 780 nm, and the TD-CARS light (CARS light, time-dependent CARS, time-delayed CARS) 55 has a wavelength range R5 of 680 to 760 nm. The Stokes light 51 and the pump light 52 may include pulses on the order of 1 to 100 fS (femtoseconds) with tens to hundreds of mW. The probe light 53 may include pulses on the order of 1 to 100 pS (picoseconds) with tens to hundreds of mW. Time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering or time-delayed coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (TD-CARS) microscopy is also known as a technique that utilizes the different time responses of virtual electron transitions and Raman transitions to suppress non-resonant background. A system that can easily apply such measurement methods to a variety of applications is needed.

[0014] The optical plate 20 is mounted with a plurality of optical elements 29, such as mirrors, prisms, and dichroic mirrors, for configuring optical paths. Three optical paths (arms) 21 to 23 may be provided on the optical plate 20. The optical path (first arm) 21 supplies Stokes light 51 via a splitter 21s for splitting a portion of the first source light 31, and guides that portion to a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) 21a, where it is extended to generate the Stokes light 51. The optical path (second arm) 22 supplies the other portion of the first source light 31 as pump light 52. The optical path (third arm) 23 supplies probe light 53 from the second source light 32 via an SHG 23s and a delay module 23a. The optical paths 22 and 23 may each include time adjustment units 22d and 23d for fine-tuning the timing of pulses contained in the pump light 52 and the probe light 53.

[0015] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of an optical module 10 including a fiber laser module (fiber laser assembly) 30 and an optical plate 20. Fig. 4 shows the wavelength plan of the fiber laser module 30. In the fiber laser module 30, a first source light 31 centered at 1030 nm and a second source light 32 centered at 1560 nm are output from a base laser 35 centered at 1560 nm that is generated (produced) by an oscillator (OSC) 310. The fiber laser module 30 includes: (1) an oscillator (OSC) 310 configured to mode-lock and output a base laser 35 and split the output to generate a first source light 31 and a second source light 32; (2) a generator 320 configured to stretch the wavelength range of the base laser 35 to generate the first source light 31; (3) a first amplifier 330 including a first preamplifier 340 and a first chirped pulse amplification (CPA) unit 350 for the first source light 31; and (4) a second amplifier 330 for the second source light 32. (5) a second amplifier (amplifier) 360 including a second preamplifier 370 and a second chirped pulse amplification (CPA) unit 380; and (6) an LD power distributor (laser diode power distributor) 390 configured to distribute laser power from a first laser diode (LD) 395 to an oscillator 310 as an oscillation source, to a generator 320 as pump power (*1), to a first preamplifier 340 as pump power (*2), and to a second preamplifier 370 as pump power (*3).

[0016] This LD power divider includes a first EVOA (Electronically Controlled Variable Optical Attenuator) 391 for stabilizing the laser power supplied to the oscillator 310 and a second EVOA 392 for stabilizing the laser power supplied to the generator 320. In this fiber laser module 30, preamplifiers 340 and 370 are provided for the amplifiers 330 and 360 of the source lights 31 and 32, respectively. The LD power divider 390 applies laser power from a common laser diode (LD) 395 to the oscillator 310 and the generator 320 and distributes it to each preamplifier 340 and 370. This configuration not only reduces the number of LDs but also enables the laser diode (common LD) 395 to operate at an operating level reaching 90% to 100% of its design output power level. When the LD 395 operates in this range, intensity noise from the LD 395 is typically minimized. Therefore, a stable and precisely controlled or tuned base laser 35 can be obtained from OSC 310, which can be used to generate stable and precisely controlled or tuned source light 31 and 32. In this fiber laser module 30, the pulses of first source light 31 and second source light 32 output from different amplifiers 330 and 370 are synchronized in time to within 50 ps.

[0017] The LD power divider also includes a first EVOA (EVOA1) 391 for the OSC 310 and a second EVOA (EVOA2) 392 for the generator 320. In the fiber laser module 30, the OSC 310 is the source of the source light (light source) 31 and 32, and fluctuations and noise from the OSC 310 propagate through the next stage and may be amplified. The first EVOA 391 cooperates with feedback from PD0, which monitors the OSC output (base laser) 35, to form a laser output control loop, actively stabilizing the OSC output power by fine-tuning (precisely adjusting) the first EVOA 391. As for the 1 μm generation stage 320, because it is a supercontinuum generation process, its output power and spectrum are highly dependent on the input power. Using the same power control concept, a second EVOA (EVOA2) 392 is used in the preamplifier to maintain a constant input power to the HNLF 325.

[0018] This fiber laser module 30 provides the two fundamental light sources 31 and 32 of the system 1. One is centered at 1032 nm and the other is centered at 1560 nm. These two outputs 31 and 32 are input to the optical plate 20 and match the input requirements of the optical plate 20. The 1032 nm output (first light source, first source light) 31 provides 12 MHz optical pulses with a FWHM pulse duration of ~66 ps. The spectral FWHM bandwidth is ~14 nm, and the average output power directly from the FC / APC connector connected to the collimator is preferably in the range of 450 mW to 520 mW. This output is sent to a free-space grating compressor 71 for pulse compression. After the compressor 71, the beam is split and input into two arms 21 and 22 for generating the CARS-Stokes and CARS-pump, respectively. The power supplied from the 1032 nm fiber laser output 31 is to compensate for the loss in free space propagation, so that the power level can meet the input requirements of the further stages on the optical plate.

[0019] The 1560 nm output (second light source, second source light) 32 provides the exact same pulse frequency (pulse repetition) as the 1032 nm output 31 at 12 MHz. The FWHM pulse duration is ~35 ps and the FWHM spectral bandwidth is ~7 nm. The average output power ranges from 130 mW to 180 mW. This output 32 is sent to a free-space grating compressor 72 for pulse compression. After the compressor 72, this beam 32 is passed through a nonlinear crystal to provide the CARS probe beam 53 at 780 nm using SHG 23s.

[0020] This fiber laser module 30 is generally composed of four subassemblies (stages): an oscillator stage (OSC) 310, a 1 μm generation stage (generator) 320, a 1032 nm CPA stage (first amplifier) 350, and a 1560 nm CPA stage (second amplifier) 360. Each stage will be described below.

[0021] The fiber laser module 30 includes a pump laser diode (LD) and an FL module that functions as a power divider 390. Three LDs 395-397 are used, providing maximum output powers at 980 nm of 600 mW, 850 mW, and 850 mW, respectively: laser diode (LD0) 395, laser diode (LD1) 396, and laser diode (LD2) 397. Laser diode (LD0) 395 provides pump power to the oscillator 310, the 1 μm generator amplifier 320, and the preamplifier stages 340 and 370 before the CPA stages 350 and 380. The output (laser power) from laser diode (LD0) 395 is directly spliced to a 20 / 80 coupler (FL14). The 20% arm (20% optical path, 20% branch) is then spliced to the first electronically controllable EVOA (EVOA1) 391. A software loop can work with this component to precisely control the output power from oscillator 310. Next, the 80% arm (80% optical path, 80% branch) from FL14 is split 50 / 50 in a coupler (FL15). One arm from FL15 goes to a second EVOA (EVOA2) 392 and is used to control the amplifier output power for stable 1 μm generation in generator 320. The other 50% arm from FL15 is then split 50 / 50 again, with each arm then spliced to the preamp pump input of CPA stages 330 and 360.

[0022] Figure 5 shows the configuration of the OSC 310. This fiber laser OSC 310 is constructed with Er-doped active fiber (Er-doped active fiber) and provides an output wavelength in the C-band range (1530 nm to 1565 nm). A laser diode (LD0) 395 operating at 976 nm in a splitter 390 provides pump power to the OSC 310 and also to the preamplifier subassemblies in the CPA stages 330 and 360. The output from the laser diode (LD0) 395 is split 20 / 80 by a fiber coupler. The 20% arm is linked to a first EVOA (EVOA1) 391 for precise control of the input pump power to the oscillator 310. The fiber used for this oscillator 310 includes PM-SMF, which has anomalous and normal dispersion at C-band wavelengths. This is to manage cavity dispersion to minimize unwanted nonlinear effects within the cavity. The fiber length is precisely tuned to match the repetition rate of 12 MHz, the specified output power. The laser output 35 is mode-locked by the SAM315, with a FWHM spectral bandwidth of 6–8 nm and an average output power of 1–1.5 mW, depending on the characteristics of the SAM315 and Er fiber. 10% of the output 35 is split by a fiber coupler and sent to PD0 for the oscillator power monitor. This oscillator power monitor provides feedback to the electronics board that controls the voltage applied to the first EVOA (EVOA1) 391, thereby maintaining a constant output power of the OSC 310. The remaining 90% is split 50 / 50 and sent to the 1 μm generator stage 320 and the 1560 nm CPA stage (second amplifier) 360, respectively.

[0023] In the distributor 390, the 80% arm from the fiber coupler (FL14) with the laser diode (LD0) 395 is split 50 / 50 by another fiber coupler (FL15). One branch goes to the preamplifiers of the CPA stages 330 and 360. The other branch connects to a second EVOA (EVOA2) 392 and goes to the 1 μm generation stage 320 to pump the EDFA (Er02). These branches will be described in more detail in later subsections.

[0024] The FL module 320 is a 1 μm generation stage. Its function is to generate a 1 μm wavelength from a 1560 nm base laser 35. The goal is to achieve identical repetition rates in the 1 μm and 1.5 μm arms. Figure 3 shows its configuration. The output 35 from the oscillator 310 is input to this stage 320. The output is amplified by an EDFA (Er02) built into this stage 320, with an average output power of ~18 mW. 1% of the power is coupled to PD1, located immediately after the amplifier output, for power monitoring. The signal from PD1 is fed back to the board that controls the second EVOA (EVOA2) 392, allowing the output power from this EDFA to be kept constant. The output pulses from the EDFA are directly compressed by a section of fiber that provides negative dispersion. At the splice point into the HNLF325, the FWHM pulse duration is compressed to ~60 fs, corresponding to a peak power of ~25 kW. When an optical pulse of this peak power is sent into a short HNLF, its wavelength elongates (broadens) from 1560 nm, eventually covering the 1 μm to 1.7 μm range. This is the so-called SC generation process. As this peak-power pulse propagates through the HNLF325, it undergoes strong nonlinear effects, broadening the spectrum from 1560 nm to shorter and longer wavelengths, ultimately forming a supercontinuum spectrum from 1 μm to 1.7-1.8 μm. This 1 μm portion is our target for harvesting for the next amplifier 330.

[0025] The FL module 330 is the 1032 nm CPA stage (first amplifier). This stage 330 includes preamplification, pulse stretching, and final amplification processes. The 50% pump branch of the splitter 390 that is not connected to any EVOAs is then split again 50 / 50 by another fiber coupler (FL16). One arm goes to the preamplifier 340 of this 1032 nm CPA stage 330, and the other goes to the preamplifier 370 of the 1560 nm CPA stage 360, which will be described later.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the generated 1 μm signal is sent to port #1 of the 1 μm CIR 333. Due to the component characteristics, only the 1 μm portion of the SC spectrum is selected from port #1 to port #2 of the CIR 333. At port #2, a Yb fiber (Yb01), a CFBG 335, and a 1030 / 980 WDM / Tap hybrid component 336 are sequentially spliced. The selected 1 μm seed (source) is first amplified in the Yb fiber. The CFBG 335 then reflects approximately 40% of its power in the wavelength range from 1018 nm to 1053 nm. Wavelengths outside this range are directly transmitted through the CFBG 335 and output from the WDM 336. The output of the WDM 336 is used to monitor the spectrum (via tap2) and power (via PD2) after this preamplifier 340. The reflected portion passes through the Yb fiber (Yb01) again, undergoes a second amplification, and returns to port #2. The pre-amplified 1 μm pulse entering port #2 exits port #3 of CIR 333. At this point, the 1 μm pulse is stretched and ready to be amplified in final amplifier 350.

[0027] The laser diode (LD1) 396 is a separate laser diode that provides up to 850 mW of pump power to the 1032 nm final amplifier 350. First, the seed from CIR port #3 is spliced into the isolator / WDM hybrid component 337. This component protects the preceding stage from damage caused by reflected light and residual pump. Next, a Yb fiber (Yb02) is spliced into the WDM 338, forming the 1032 nm CPA stage 330. The final output (first light source, first source light) 31 provides 12 MHz optical pulses with a FWHM pulse duration of ~66 ps. The spectral FWHM bandwidth is ~14 nm, and the average output power directly from the FC / APC connector connected to the collimator is preferably in the range of 450 mW to 520 mW. PD3 and tap3 are connected to 1% taps for power and spectrum monitoring, respectively. PD3 provides feedback to form a control loop to keep the output from the 1032 nm CPA stage 330 constant.

[0028] The FL module 360 is a 1560 nm CPA stage. As shown in Figure 3, this stage 360 includes preamplification, pulse stretching, and final amplification processes. The overall configuration is the same as the 1032 nm CPA stage 330, but the components are slightly different due to the different wavelength range. The pump source for the preamplifier 370 is the remaining half of the pump split from the splitter 390. The 1560 nm seed is the remaining half split from 80% of the OSC output 35. The concepts of the 1032 nm CPA stage 330 are also applied to the 1560 nm CPA stage 360, but the 1560 nm CIR 361 port #1 of the 1560 nm CPA stage 360 is used to incorporate the CFBG 363 and WDM 364 components, both operating at 1560 nm, into the seed preamplification and pulse stretching processes. Laser diode (LD2) 397 is another separate laser diode that provides up to 850 mW of pump power to the 1560 nm final amplifier 380. From port #3 of the CIR 361, the pre-amplified seed is sent to Er-fiber (Er04) and tap / isolator / WDM hybrid component 365 to complete the 1560 nm CPA stage 360.

[0029] The final output provides 12 MHz optical pulses at 1560 nm output 32. The FWHM pulse duration is ~35 ps and the FWHM spectral bandwidth is ~7 nm. The average output power ranges from 130 mW to 180 mW. PD4 is connected to tap4 via a 1% tap for both power and spectrum monitoring. PD4 also provides feedback to form a control loop to obtain a constant output power from the 1560 nm CPA stage 360.

[0030] Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the compressor (1560 nm pulse compressor) 72. As part of the chirped pulse amplification scheme provided by the fiber laser module 30, compressors 71 and 72 are installed in the optical plate 20 to reverse pulse stretching of the first and second source beams 31 and 32, respectively, before feeding them into the respective arms 21, 22, and 23. Generally, compressors change the pulse duration (duration) of the input laser pulse, compressing it to the shortest achievable duration. That is, in the chirped pulse amplification (CPA) scheme used in ultrafast systems, short laser pulses are first stretched, then amplified, and finally compressed back to their short pulse duration. The higher the amplification factor, the greater the pulse stretching required to avoid damage and nonlinear effects that distort the pulse envelope. While stretching can be achieved with fiber, compression is the problem. A conventional compressor consists of two parallel gratings, the spacing of which is proportional to the compression factor.

[0031] The compressor 72 shown in Figures 6 and 7 compresses the expanded light source (1560 nm pulse) 32 supplied from the fiber laser module 30. The compressor 72 includes a grating 710 and a first optical element 711 and a second optical element 712 provided to fold the light path 700 on either side 721 and 722 of the grating 710, respectively. The second optical element 712 is positioned to fold the light in a direction perpendicular to the first optical element 711. The compressor 72 may further include a third optical element 713 for folding the light path 700 on the side 721 of the first optical element 711. In the compressor 72, a typical optical element for folding the optical path 700 is a prism, and therefore the first optical element 711 may include a first prism 731, and the second optical element 712 may include a second prism 732 arranged to fold the light in a direction perpendicular to the first prism 731. The third optical element 713 may include a third prism 733 arranged to fold the light in a direction parallel to the first prism 731. The compressor 72 may also include a position adjustment device 715 for adjusting the position of the third optical element 713 to precisely control the optical path length for compression.

[0032] In compressor 72, a beam, in this case second source light 32, enters compressor 72 and its spectral components are diffracted by grating 710. Because optical path 700 is wavelength dependent, the spectral phase is altered such that the pulse duration is extended by three orders of magnitude. The compression ratio 72 is a function of the grating separation. Folded design prisms 731, 732, and 733 are used to retroreflect the spectrum back onto the same grating 710. Prism 733 is positioned on linear stage 715, providing a convenient way to change the effective grating separation without affecting the grating's parallelism.

[0033] For this 1560 nm compressor 72, the distance between the first and second inputs is ~200 mm, so a second prism 732 is added for a second fold to achieve a compact footprint. After the second input to the diffraction grating 710, the beam 702 enters the second prism 732, which is positioned to fold the light in a direction perpendicular to the first prism 731, thereby retroreflecting the beam 702 with a changed height. The beam 702 then retraces its path. Upon entering the grating 710 a fourth time, the spectrum is recombined into output beam 715, which is used as the second source 32 for the third arm 23 to generate the probe beam 53.

[0034] As described above, compressor 72 utilizes a single-grating folded design to minimize its footprint. In compressor 72, beam 701 is diffracted by grating 710, folded by first prism 731 and third prism 733, and re-enters grating 710. Beam 702, diffracted again by grating 710, travels further and is folded by second prism 732 before re-entering grating 710. Compressor 72 folds optical path 700 twice, achieving a much smaller footprint than a single-fold approach. The doubly folded compressor 72 occupies a footprint twice smaller than the equivalent single-fold structure. Note that a similar structure can also be applied to compressor 71.

[0035] The third optical path (third arm) 23 of the optical plate 20 employs PPLN (periodically poled lithium niobate) 23s for SHG to control the shape of the probe pulse. In this system 1, the probe pulse provided as the probe light 53 has two conflicting requirements: a narrow-bandwidth probe pulse is necessary to enhance the spectral resolution of the system 1, and a sharp-edge probe pulse is necessary to enhance the time resolution of the system when a time delay is used to suppress the resonant CARS signal 55. Compared to simple doubling crystals, the use of PPLN (periodically poled lithium niobate) 23s enables higher conversion efficiency and wider bandwidth. At the same time, the use of PPLN's periodic structure leads to constructive interference, which produces a much steeper probe edge than an equivalent Gaussian pulse of the same bandwidth, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

[0036] As described above, a hybrid fiber / free-space laser architecture for TD-CARS has been disclosed. The femtosecond fiber laser system has two main outputs. One output provides a 12 MHz source light centered at 1560 nm with a bandwidth of approximately 6 nm. This spectral condition allows for pulse compression down to ~580 fs. Peak powers can be up to ~17 kW and average powers can be up to 120 mW. The other output provides a source light with the exact same repetition rate, centered at 1030 nm with a 14 nm bandwidth. After compression, the pulse width is ~120 fs. Maximum average power is 450 mW, and peak power can be up to ~230 kW. An output collimator allows these two pulses from different output arms to be synchronized in time to within 50 ps.

[0037] A full-fiber solution for high-performance CARS is disclosed herein. This picosecond fiber laser system has a single output containing temporally overlapping 1 μm and 1.3 μm pulses. The system begins with a laser oscillator providing a 1 μm output wavelength with a narrow bandwidth of ~0.3 nm. This acts as a source (seed) and is then split into two arms for the amplification stage. In one arm, the amplified 1 μm signal is directly spliced into a photonic crystal fiber for supercontinuum generation, providing a wavelength range up to 1.3 μm. A 100 nm bandwidth centered at 1.3 μm allows for average powers up to 100 mW. The 1.3 μm arm is then recombined with the 1 μm arm to form a single output. The final output can include 100 mW at 1.3 μm and watt-level average power at 1 μm. The output pulse width is less than 20 ps. Depending on the design, the two pulses can be partially or completely overlapping in time.

[0038] This paper describes a compact optical compressor. In the chirped pulse amplification (CPA) technique used in ultrafast systems, a short laser pulse is first stretched, then amplified, and finally compressed back to a short pulse duration. The higher the amplification factor, the greater the pulse stretching required to avoid damage and nonlinear effects that distort the pulse envelope. Since stretching can be achieved in fiber, the compression becomes the problem. Conventional compressors consist of two parallel diffraction gratings, with the spacing between the gratings proportional to the compression factor. Alternatively, a single grating can be folded to reduce the footprint. We further propose a double-folded compressor, which achieves a much smaller footprint than a single-fold compressor. An assembly is presented, demonstrating a double-folded compressor with a footprint nearly half the size of a comparable single-fold compressor.

[0039] This paper describes the control of probe pulse shape. This probe pulse has conflicting requirements: narrow bandwidth for high spectral resolution and sharp pulse edges for temporal resolution when delays are used to suppress the resonant CARS signal. Simple frequency-doubled crystals have low conversion efficiency and broader bandwidth than periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). At the same time, the periodic structure of PPLN can be used to generate constructive interference, producing a probe edge that is much steeper than an equivalent Gaussian pulse of the same bandwidth.

[0040] The above discloses a system that includes an optical module that provides Stokes light, pump light, and probe light for generating CARS light. the optical module includes a fiber laser module for supplying a first source light to be converted into the Stokes light and the pump light and a second source light to be converted into the probe light; and an optical plate including a plurality of optical elements for converting the first source light to the Stokes light and the pump light and converting the second source light to the probe light, wherein the fiber laser module includes: an oscillator configured to output a mode-locked base laser, the base laser being split to generate the first source light and the second source light; a generator configured to stretch a wavelength range of the base laser to generate the first source light; a first amplifier including a first preamplifier and a first chirped pulse amplifier for the first source light; a second amplifier including a second preamplifier and a second chirped pulse amplifier for the second source light; and a laser diode power distributor configured to distribute laser power from a first laser diode to the oscillator as an oscillation source, to the generator as pump power, to the first preamplifier as pump power, and to the second preamplifier as pump power. The laser diode power distributor may include a first EVOA (electronically controlled variable optical attenuator) that stabilizes the laser power supplied to the oscillator, and a second EVOA that stabilizes the laser power supplied to the generator.

[0041] The optical elements of the optical plate may include a compressor that compresses the stretched source light supplied from the fiber laser module, and the compressor may include a grating and a first optical element and a second optical element for respectively folding the light path on either side of the grating. The second optical element may be arranged to fold the light in a direction perpendicular to the first optical element. The first optical element may include a first prism, and the second optical element may include a second prism arranged to fold the light in a direction perpendicular to the first prism. The compressor may further include a third optical element for folding the light path on the side of the first optical element. The plurality of optical elements of the optical plate may include a second harmonic generation (SHG) for generating the probe light from the second source light, the SHG including a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) compressor for compressing the stretched source light supplied from the fiber laser module, and the compressor may include a grating and a first optical element and a second optical element for bending the optical path on either side of the grating, respectively.

[0042] The optical elements of the optical plate may include a splitter for splitting a portion of the first source light into a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and extending it to generate the Stokes light and for splitting another portion of the first source light as the pump light. The system may further include a scanning module configured to scan a target with the Stokes light, the pump light, and the probe light and acquire CARS light from the target, and a detector configured to detect the CARS light for analysis. The first source light may be centered at 1030 nm, the second source light may be centered at 1560 nm, and the base laser may be centered at 1560 nm.

[0043] The foregoing description of specific embodiments sufficiently reveals the general nature of the embodiments herein so that third parties, by applying current knowledge, can readily modify and / or adapt such specific embodiments for various uses without departing from the general concept; therefore, such adaptations and modifications should, and are intended to, be understood within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It should be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for purposes of description and not of limitation. Thus, while preferred embodiments have been described herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 system, 10 optical modules, 20 optical plates 30 Fiber Laser Module

Claims

1. 1. A system including an optical module for providing Stokes light, pump light, and probe light for generating CARS light, the optical module includes a fiber laser module for providing a first source light for conversion into the Stokes light and the pump light and a second source light for conversion into the probe light; the fiber laser module includes an oscillator configured to output a mode-locked base laser, the base laser being split to generate the first source light and the second source light; a generator configured to stretch the wavelength range of the base laser to generate the first source light, the generator using a first laser power as a pump power; a first amplifier including a first preamplifier for the first source light using a second laser power as a pump power and a first chirped pulse amplifier using a third laser power as a pump power; a second amplifier including a second preamplifier for the second source light using a fourth laser power as a pump power and a second chirped pulse amplifier using a fifth laser power as a pump power; the optical module includes a plurality of laser diodes for supplying the first through fifth laser powers, and a laser diode power distributor that supplies at least one of the first through fifth laser powers by dividing an output of at least one laser diode of the plurality of laser diodes.

2. In claim 1, the optical module includes an optical plate including a plurality of optical elements for converting the first source light into the Stokes light and the pump light and converting the second source light into the probe light; the plurality of optical elements includes a compressor that compresses the stretched source light supplied from the fiber laser module; The compressor comprises a grating and The system includes a first optical element and a second optical element for folding the optical path on either side of the grating, respectively.

3. In claim 2, The system wherein the second optical element is positioned to fold light in a direction orthogonal to the first optical element.

4. In claim 2, the first optical element includes a first prism; The system, wherein the second optical element includes a second prism positioned to fold light in a direction orthogonal to the first prism.

5. In claim 2, The system, wherein the compressor further includes a third optical element for folding the optical path on the side of the first optical element.

6. In claim 2, the plurality of optical elements of the optical plate include a second harmonic generation (SHG) for generating the probe light from the second source light; The system wherein the SHG includes a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN).

7. In claim 2, the plurality of optical elements of the optical plate include a splitter for splitting a portion of the first source light and directing it into a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and extending it to generate the Stokes light, and for splitting another portion of the first source light as the pump light.

8. In any one of claims 1 to 7, a scanning module configured to scan a target with the Stokes beam, the pump beam, and the probe beam and acquire CARS beam from the target; and a detector configured to detect the CARS light for analysis.

9. In any one of claims 1 to 7, The system wherein the first source light is centered at 1030 nm, the second source light is centered at 1560 nm, and the base laser is centered at 1560 nm.

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