Abstract: Described is a system for inducing and detecting multi-photon processes, in particular multi-photon fluorescence or higher harmonic generation in a sample. The system comprises a dynamically-controllable light source, said dynamically-controllable light source comprising a first sub-light source, said first sub-light source being electrically controllable such as to generate controllable time-dependent intensity patterns of light having a first wavelength, and at least one optical amplifier, thereby allowing for active time-control of creation of multi-photon-excitation. The system further comprises a beam delivery unit for delivering light generated by said dynamically-controllable light source to a sample site, and a detector unit or detector assembly for detecting signals indicative of said multi-photon process, in particular multi-photon fluorescence signals or higher harmonics signals.

Abstract: A swept source OCT system and related method are disclosed. The system comprises a control device for operating a tunable light source in response to an electronic sweep control signal such that the tunable light source carries out wave length sweeps with a repetition rate fsweep, which depends on the frequency of the sweep control signal. The system further comprises a detection device for the time-resolved detection of an interference signal from a sample beam and a reference beam with the help of a detection cycle signal. The sweep control signal and the detection cycle signal are phase-locked, or means for creating a signal or signal sequence are provided, said signal or signal sequence being characterising for the frequency relationship and/or the relative phase position of the sweep control signal and detection cycle signal.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of the method is designed to create a two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional sample.

Abstract: Described is a system for inducing and detecting multi-photon processes, in particular multi-photon fluorescence or higher harmonic generation in a sample. The system comprises a dynamically-controllable light source, said dynamically-controllable light source comprising a first sub-light source, said first sub-light source being electrically controllable such as to generate controllable time-dependent intensity patterns of light having a first wavelength, and at least one optical amplifier, thereby allowing for active time-control of creation of multi-photon-excitation. The system further comprises a beam delivery unit for delivering light generated by said dynamically-controllable light source to a sample site, and a detector unit or detector assembly for detecting signals indicative of said multi-photon process, in particular multi-photon fluorescence signals or higher harmonics signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system (10) for measuring light induced transmission or reflection changes, in particular due to stimulated Raman emission. The system comprises a first light source (12) for generating a first light signal having a first wavelength, a second light source (14) for generating a second light signal having a second wavelength, an optical assembly (16) for superposing said first and second light signals at a sample location (18), and a detection means (24) for detecting a transmitted or reflected light signal, in particular a stimulated Raman signal caused by a Raman-active medium when located at said sample location. Here in at least one of the first and second light sources (12, 14) is one or both of actively controllable to emit a time controlled light pattern or operated substantially in CW mode and provided with an extra cavity modulation means (64) for generating a time controlled light pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coherent dynamically controllable narrow band light source (10), comprising a first sub-light source (12), said first sub-light source being electrically controllable such as to generate controllable time-dependent intensity patterns of light having a first wavelength, a Raman active medium (30) suitable to cause Raman scattering of light having said first wavelength, a second sub-light source (20) capable of emitting light with a second wavelength, said second wavelength being longer than said first wavelength, and an optical fiber or wave guide, wherein said light emitted by said first and second sub-light sources traverses a length of said optical fiber (30) or wave guide in a feed-forward configuration to facilitate a non-linear wavelength conversion step involving said Raman-active medium. At least one of said first and second sub-light sources (12, 20) has a coherence length longer than 0.05 mm, preferably longer than 0.5 mm and most preferably longer than 2 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coherent dynamically controllable narrow band light source (10), comprising a first sub-light source (12), said first sub-light source being electrically controllable such as to generate controllable time-dependent intensity patterns of light having a first wavelength, a Raman active medium (30) suitable to cause Raman scattering of light having said first wavelength, a second sub-light source (20) capable of emitting light with a second wavelength, said second wavelength being longer than said first wavelength, and an optical fiber or wave guide, wherein said light emitted by said first and second sub-light sources traverses a length of said optical fiber (30) or wave guide in a feed-forward configuration to facilitate a non-linear wavelength conversion step involving said Raman-active medium. At least one of said first and second sub-light sources (12, 20) has a coherence length longer than 0.05 mm, preferably longer than 0.5 mm and most preferably longer than 2 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system (10) for measuring light induced transmission or reflection changes, in particular due to stimulated Raman emission. The system comprises a first light source (12) for generating a first light signal having a first wavelength, a second light source (14) for generating a second light signal having a second wavelength, an optical assembly (16) for superposing said first and second light signals at a sample location (18), and a detection means (24) for detecting a transmitted or reflected light signal, in particular a stimulated Raman signal caused by a Raman-active medium when located at said sample location. Here in at least one of the first and second light sources (12, 14) is one or both of actively controllable to emit a time controlled light pattern or operated substantially in CW mode and provided with an extra cavity modulation means (64) for generating a time controlled light pattern.

Abstract: A swept source OCT system and related method are disclosed. The system comprises a control device for operating a tunable light source in response to an electronic sweep control signal such that the tunable light source carries out wave length sweeps with a repetition rate fsweep, which depends on the frequency of the sweep control signal. The system further comprises a detection device for the time-resolved detection of an interference signal from a sample beam and a reference beam with the help of a detection cycle signal. The sweep control signal and the detection cycle signal are phase-locked, or means for creating a signal or signal sequence are provided, said signal or signal sequence being characterising for the frequency relationship and/or the relative phase position of the sweep control signal and detection cycle signal.

Abstract: At least one embodiment of the method is designed to create a two-dimensional image of a three-dimensional sample.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a wavelength-tunable light source includes at least one fiber-based partial section and at least one delay section. For a wavelength ? of at least one portion of a radiation emitted by the light source as a function of time t, the relationship ?(t)=?(t??) holds true. In this case, ? is a specific period of time. Furthermore, the delay section includes one or more oligomode fibers.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the wavelength-tunable light source (1), it comprises an output source (2), which is capable in operation of generating electromagnetic radiation (R). Furthermore, the light source (1) has a wavelength-selective first filter element (5), which is situated downstream from the output source (2). Moreover, the light source (1) contains a first amplifier medium (3), which is situated downstream from the first filter element (5) and is capable of at least partial amplification of the radiation (R) emitted by the output source (2). The light source (1) further comprises at least one wavelength-selective second filter element (6), which is situated downstream from the first amplifier medium (3), the second filter element (6) having an optical spacing (L) to the first filter element (5). The first filter element (5) and the at least one second filter element (6) are tunable via a control unit (11), which the light source (1) has.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the wavelength-tunable light source, it comprises an output source, which is capable in operation of generating electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, the light source has a wavelength-selective first filter element, which is situated downstream from the output source. Moreover, the light source contains a first amplifier medium, which is situated downstream from the first filter element and is capable of at least partial amplification of the radiation emitted by the output source. The light source further comprises at least one wavelength-selective second filter element, which is situated downstream from the first amplifier medium, the second filter element having an optical spacing to the first filter element. The first filter element and the at least one second filter element are tunable via a control unit, which the light source has.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a wavelength-tunable light source includes at least one fiber-based partial section and at least one delay section. For a wavelength ? of at least one portion of a radiation emitted by the light source as a function of time t, the relationship ?(t)=?(t??) holds true. In this case, ? is a specific period of time. Furthermore, the delay section includes one or more oligomode fibers.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the wavelength-tunable light source, it comprises an output source, which is capable in operation of generating electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, the light source has a wavelength-selective first filter element, which is situated downstream from the output source. Moreover, the light source contains a first amplifier medium, which is situated downstream from the first filter element and is capable of at least partial amplification of the radiation emitted by the output source. The light source further comprises at least one wavelength-selective second filter element, which is situated downstream from the first amplifier medium, the second filter element having an optical spacing to the first filter element. The first filter element and the at least one second filter element are tunable via a control unit, which the light source has.

Abstract: A tunable laser includes an optical gain medium, a first resonator, a periodically tunable optical filter, and a second resonator in which light of a laser wavelength exhibits a round trip time T. The optical filter is arranged between the first resonator and the second resonator and is tuned with a period t. The period t is governed by t=(n/m) T, where n and m are integers and m/n is not an integer.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment of the wavelength-tunable light source (1), it comprises an output source (2), which is capable in operation of generating electromagnetic radiation (R). Furthermore, the light source (1) has a wavelength-selective first filter element (5), which is situated downstream from the output source (2). Moreover, the light source (1) contains a first amplifier medium (3), which is situated downstream from the first filter element (5) and is capable of at least partial amplification of the radiation (R) emitted by the output source (2). The light source (1) further comprises at least one wavelength-selective second filter element (6), which is situated downstream from the first amplifier medium (3), the second filter element (6) having an optical spacing (L) to the first filter element (5). The first filter element (5) and the at least one second filter element (6) are tunable via a control unit (11), which the light source (1) has.

Abstract: A tunable laser includes an optical gain medium, a first resonator, a periodically tunable optical filter, and a second resonator in which light of a laser wavelength exhibits a round trip time T. The optical filter is arranged between the first resonator and the second resonator and is tuned with a period t. The period t is governed by t=(n/m) T, where n and m are integers and m/n is not an integer.