{"id":5171,"date":"2023-05-02T15:14:03","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T19:14:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/labrigger.com\/blog\/?p=5171"},"modified":"2023-05-02T16:02:36","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T20:02:36","slug":"when-do-you-need-a-pulse-compressor-for-multiphoton-imaging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/labrigger.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/02\/when-do-you-need-a-pulse-compressor-for-multiphoton-imaging\/","title":{"rendered":"When do you need a pulse compressor for multiphoton imaging?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a>
There are different types of pulse compressors, this is clever single prism design.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a quick question I received via email that might be worth sharing: Does using a pulse compressor make a noticeable difference?<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can, specifically when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1) There is a lot of glass in the system (more than a typical system– our Diesel2p system needs it),
(2) You’re starting with very short pulses (e.g., <100 fs),
and\/or
(3) You’re working right at the limit of average power (e.g., 100 mW is too dim, but 120 mW damages tissue)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, shorter<\/strong> pulses<\/strong> suffer more dispersion (because they typically have larger spectral bandwidth), and shorter<\/strong> wavelengths<\/strong> suffer more dispersion (because the index of refraction typically changes faster, per nm of wavelength, towards the blue\/uv end of the spectrum). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you’re imaging with 1050 nm, starting with ~150 fs pulses, and you only need 20 mW to image and your damage threshold is closer to 200 mW, and you don’t have much glass in your system (i.e., a conventional system), then a pulse compressor might not buy you much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many laser systems, including Ti:Sapphs and fiber lasers, can be purchased with built-in compressors, and these have generally worked quite well. There are standalone pulse-compressors too. If you want to learn more about them, Swamp Optics<\/a> has excellent info on their web site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks, Rick Trebino:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/a>There are different types of pulse compressors, this is clever single prism design.<\/p>\n

Here’s a quick question I received via email that might be worth sharing: Does using a pulse compressor make…<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/div>\n

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