Abstract: An optical beamlet-array generator includes a ring resonator, a polarizing beamsplitter and a polarization optic. The ring resonator includes a plurality of mirrors that in part define a plurality of distinct optical paths within the ring resonator. The polarizing beamsplitter (i) is between a first mirror and a final mirror, (ii) outputs a first polarization component of an incident optical signal as a non-delayed output beamlet propagating along a non-delayed output-beam path, (iii) outputs a second polarization component of the incident optical signal onto a first optical path as a first delayed-beamlet propagating toward the first mirror. The beamsplitter reflects the transverse electric polarization component of the first delayed-beamlet out of the first optical path as a delayed-output beamlet that propagates along a delayed output-beam path that is offset from the non-delayed output-beam path.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive illumination, the imaging system comprising an excitation source having a modulator, which generates a pulse intensity pattern having a first wavelength when the excitation source receives a modulation pattern. The modulation pattern is a data sequence of a structural image of a sample. An amplifier of the imaging system is configured to receive and amplify the pulse intensity pattern from the modulator. A frequency shift mechanism of the imaging system shifts the first wavelength of the pulse intensity pattern to a second wavelength. A laser scanning microscope of the imaging system receives the pulse intensity pattern having the second wavelength.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive illumination, the imaging system comprising an excitation source having a modulator, which generates a pulse intensity pattern having a first wavelength when the excitation source receives a modulation pattern. The modulation pattern is a data sequence of a structural image of a sample. An amplifier of the imaging system is configured to receive and amplify the pulse intensity pattern from the modulator. A frequency shift mechanism of the imaging system shifts the first wavelength of the pulse intensity pattern to a second wavelength. A laser scanning microscope of the imaging system receives the pulse intensity pattern having the second wavelength.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive illumination, the imaging system comprising an excitation source having a modulator, which generates a pulse intensity pattern having a first wavelength when the excitation source receives a modulation pattern. The modulation pattern is a data sequence of a structural image of a sample. An amplifier of the imaging system is configured to receive and amplify the pulse intensity pattern from the modulator. A frequency shift mechanism of the imaging system shifts the first wavelength of the pulse intensity pattern to a second wavelength. A laser scanning microscope of the imaging system receives the pulse intensity pattern having the second wavelength.

Abstract: A microendoscope, and a microendoscopy method related to the microendoscope, each include a tube housing, where an end of the tube housing is shaped and finished to facilitate collection of light emitted from a sample when examined using the microendoscope. In addition, a catadioptric lens assembly, an endomicroscope that includes the catadioptric lens assembly and a microendoscopy method for microscopic analysis that uses the endomicroscope are predicated upon a second element and a third element within the catadioptric lens assembly that each has a dichroic coating. The placement of the dichroic coating on the second element and the third element provides for different magnification factors as a function of illumination wavelength when using the microendoscopy method.

Abstract: An integrated GHz ultrasonic neuro-cognitive system including a chip-cyborg having a network of biological neurons that forms a biological information processor, which can be controlled by electronics, optics, and GHz ultrasonic beams. In one example, the chip-scale microsystem includes a CMOS chip with RF CMOS and piezoelectric thin film transducers that can generate GHz ultrasonic waves, which can be phased to form narrow beams, achieving significant ultrasonic intensity to affect neurons. With a sufficient number of ultrasonic pixels, the focal point of the beam can be narrow enough to focus effect specific section of a neuron to enhance or decrease synaptic weights owing to ultrasonic radiation forces and acoustic streaming.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive illumination, the imaging system comprising an excitation source having a modulator, which generates a pulse intensity pattern having a first wavelength when the excitation source receives a modulation pattern. The modulation pattern is a data sequence of a structural image of a sample. An amplifier of the imaging system is configured to receive and amplify the pulse intensity pattern from the modulator. A frequency shift mechanism of the imaging system shifts the first wavelength of the pulse intensity pattern to a second wavelength. A laser scanning microscope of the imaging system receives the pulse intensity pattern having the second wavelength.

Abstract: A multi-photon wavefront sensor system and method. The system includes a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor and a laser excitation source configured to emit a plurality of laser pulses at a wavelength in the near-infrared range, wherein the plurality of laser pulses are configured to induce multi-photon absorption in a detector material of the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to fiber designs for wavelength tunable ultra-short pulse lasers. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems incorporating fiber designs for higher order mode fibers capable of soliton self frequency shifting where a system comprises a first fiber for shifting the wavelength from a pump wavelength to a transfer wavelength and a second fiber for shifting the pulse from the transfer wavelength to an output wavelength. In one embodiment of the present invention, a wavelength tunable short pulse fiber laser system comprises: a pulse generator for providing a pulse having an input wavelength; a mode-converter; a first designed fiber for shifting the pulse from the input wavelength to a transfer wavelength; and a second designed fiber for shifting the pulse from the transfer wavelength to an output wavelength.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to optical mode conversion by nonlinear effects. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to nonlinear mode conversion utilizing intermodal four-wave mixing to convert light between modes having different wavelengths for complex applications. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fiber comprises an input end for receiving light in a first mode at a first wavelength, and an output end for outputting light in a desired second mode at a desired second wavelength, wherein the first wavelength and the second wavelength are not the same. In many embodiments, the fiber comprises a higher-order mode fiber.

Abstract: An optical lens comprising a lens body that transmits light in an optical path there through, wherein the lens body consists of an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a medium there between, further wherein one of the anterior surface and the posterior surface has a single curvature and the other of the anterior surface and the posterior surface has at least two optical zones each having a different curvature. An optical system, comprising a multi-photon endoscope having a distal end, and the optical lens disposed in the distal end. A method for obtaining an image of an object comprising providing the multi-photon endoscope, propagating light from the endoscope scanner one optical zone of the lens to focus the light at a focus location, and propagating light from the scanner through a different optical zones of the lens to focus the light at a different focus location.

Abstract: Embodied is a two-color, fiber-delivered picosecond source for coherent Raman scattering (CRS) imaging. A wavelength tunable picosecond pump is generated by nonlinear spectral compression of a prechirped femtosecond pulse from a mode-locked titanium:sapphire (Ti:S) laser. A 1064-nm picosecond Stokes pulse is generated by an all-fiber time-lens source (or suitable alternative source) that is synchronized to the Ti:S laser. The pump and Stokes beams are combined in an optical fiber coupler, which serves not only as the delivery fiber but also as the nonlinear medium for spectral compression of the femtosecond pulse. CRS imaging of mouse skin is performed to demonstrate the practicality of this source.

Abstract: A microendoscope, and a microendoscopy method related to the microendoscope, each include a tube housing, where an end of the tube housing is shaped and finished to facilitate collection of light emitted from a sample when examined using the microendoscope. In addition, a catadioptric lens assembly, an endomicroscope that includes the catadioptric lens assembly and a microendoscopy method for microscopic analysis that uses the endomicroscope are predicated upon a second element and a third element within the catadioptric lens assembly that each has a dichroic coating. The placement of the dichroic coating on the second element and the third element provides for different magnification factors as a function of illumination wavelength when using the microendoscopy method.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to optical mode conversion using intermodal Cherenkov radiation. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to optical mode conversion utilizing intermodal four-wave mixing to convert light between modes for complex applications, whereby one of the four waves is generated from Cherenkov radiation. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fiber comprises an input end for receiving light in a first mode at a first wavelength, and an output end for outputting light in a desired second mode at a desired second wavelength; wherein the desired second mode is controlled deforming the fiber, such as by bending, during an intermodal Cherenkov radiation process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to optical mode conversion by nonlinear effects. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to nonlinear mode conversion utilizing intermodal four-wave mixing to convert light between modes having different wavelengths for complex applications. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fiber comprises an input end for receiving light in a first mode at a first wavelength, and an output end for outputting light in a desired second mode at a desired second wavelength, wherein the first wavelength and the second wavelength are not the same. In many embodiments, the fiber comprises a higher-order mode fiber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to fiber designs for wavelength tunable ultra-short pulse lasers. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems incorporating fiber designs for higher order mode fibers capable of soliton self frequency shifting where a system comprises a first fiber for shifting the wavelength from a pump wavelength to a transfer wavelength and a second fiber for shifting the pulse from the transfer wavelength to an output wavelength. In one embodiment of the present invention, a wavelength tunable short pulse fiber laser system comprises: a pulse generator for providing a pulse having an input wavelength; a mode-converter; a first designed fiber for shifting the pulse from the input wavelength to a transfer wavelength; and a second designed fiber for shifting the pulse from the transfer wavelength to an output wavelength.

Abstract: Embodied is a two-color, fiber-delivered picosecond source for coherent Raman scattering (CRS) imaging. A wavelength tunable picosecond pump is generated by nonlinear spectral compression of a prechirped femtosecond pulse from a mode-locked titanium:sapphire (Ti:S) laser. A 1064-nm picosecond Stokes pulse is generated by an all-fiber time-lens source (or suitable alternative source) that is synchronized to the Ti:S laser. The pump and Stokes beams are combined in an optical fiber coupler, which serves not only as the delivery fiber but also as the nonlinear medium for spectral compression of the femtosecond pulse. CRS imaging of mouse skin is performed to demonstrate the practicality of this source.

Abstract: An optical scanner, scanner apparatus, or scanner assembly, which may be particularly advantageous for use in a multiphoton microscope, includes a first drivable bending component, a second drivable bending component mounted perpendicularly to the first component, and at least one optical waveguide coupled one or both of the first and second bending components, wherein the at least one optical waveguide provides both a propagation path for a multiphoton excitation radiation delivery between a light source and a target and a multiphoton-induced emission radiation delivery between the target and a detector. A GRIN relay lens. A multiphoton microscope incorporating the scanner and the GRIN relay lens.

Abstract: An optical scanner, scanner apparatus, or scanner assembly, which may be particularly advantageous for use in a multiphoton microscope, includes a first drivable bending component, a second drivable bending component mounted perpendicularly to the first component, and at least one optical waveguide coupled one or both of the first and second bending components, wherein the at least one optical waveguide provides both a propagation path for a multiphoton excitation radiation delivery between a light source and a target and a multiphoton-induced emission radiation delivery between the target and a detector. A GRIN relay lens. A multiphoton microscope incorporating the scanner and the GRIN relay lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing optical pulses of a desired wavelength. The apparatus includes an optical pulse source operable to generate input optical pulses at a first wavelength. The apparatus further includes a higher order mode (HOM) fiber module operable to receive the input optical pulses at the first wavelength, and thereafter to produce output optical pulses at the desired wavelength by soliton self-frequency shift (SSFS). The present invention also relates to a method of producing optical pulses having a desired wavelength. This method includes generating input optical pulses using an optical pulse source, where the input optical pulses have a first wavelength and a first spatial mode.