Ion-beam sputtered (IBS) thin-film interference filters for nonlinear optical imaging

Neil Anderson; Prashant Prabhat; Turan Erdogan

doi:10.1117/12.903604

9 February 2012 Ion-beam sputtered (IBS) thin-film interference filters for nonlinear optical imaging

Neil Anderson, Prashant Prabhat, Turan Erdogan

Proceedings Volume 8226, Multiphoton Microscopy in the Biomedical Sciences XII; 82260O (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.903604
Event: SPIE BiOS, 2012, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Nonlinear optical (NLO) microscopy is emerging as a powerful technique for the study of biological samples. By combining several different imaging modalities such as multiphoton (MP) fluorescence, second-harmonic and thirdharmonic generation (SHG and THG), and coherent Raman scattering techniques such as coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), it is possible to combine the best practices of label and label-free imaging into a single platform capable of imaging structures within single cells and elucidating the health of biological tissue samples, even at the submicron level. Single-substrate, ion-beam-sputtered (IBS) thinfilm interference filters are a key enabling technology in laser-based optical microscopy and play a critical role in multimodal NLO imaging. In microscopy applications, optical filters are used to select and discriminate exactly which wavelengths of light are to be transmitted, reflected and suppressed. In this paper we discuss various important characteristics of hard-coated thin-film interference filters, such as high light throughput, steep edges, and high out-of-band blocking, all of which require careful consideration when designing and manufacturing optical filters for NLO imaging applications. To understand the true performance of hard-coated IBS filters, a simple CARS imaging experiment was performed. We found a 2.6 times increase in signal enhancement and 70% improvement in image contrast when compared to a commercially available filter commonly used in CARS microscopy applications.

Citation Download Citation

Neil Anderson, Prashant Prabhat, and Turan Erdogan "Ion-beam sputtered (IBS) thin-film interference filters for nonlinear optical imaging", Proc. SPIE 8226, Multiphoton Microscopy in the Biomedical Sciences XII, 82260O (9 February 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.903604

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available