Multi-photon excitation microscopy

Table 2 MPE laser table.

Laser Material	Company; Model	Wavelength/nm	Pulse Length	Repetition Rate	Power
Ti:Sapphire	Coherent; Mira	700–980	<200 fs	76 MHz	0.7 W 1.3 W
	Spectra Physics; Tsunami	700–1000	<100 fs (or 2ps as option)	80 MHz	0.8 W 1.4 W
	Coherent; Chameleon – XR	705–980	<140 fs	90 MHz	1.7 W
	Spectra Physics; Mai Tai	710–990	120 fs	80 MHz	1.5 W
	Time Bandwidth; Pallas	780–860	<100 fs	75 MHz	500 mW
	Time Bandwidth; Tiger	780–860	<100 fs	100 MHz	400 mW
	Femtosource	750–850	<12 fs	75 MHz	400 mW 600 mW
Nd:YLF	MicroLase/Coherent Scotland; BioLite	1047	200 fs	120 MHz	500 mW
Nd:Glass	Time Bandwidth; GLX200	1058	<250 fs	100 MHz	>400 mW
Ytterbium	Amplitude Systems	1030	<200 fs	50 MHz	1 W
Cr:LiSAF	Highqlasers	850 snm	100 fs	50 MHz	>1--mW
OPO	Coherent and Spectra Physics	350–1200	100 fs		~200 mW

Commercial laser sources available for MPE microscopy and spectroscopy are reported along with main parameters. The pulse length given is the average pulse length through over the full tuning range of the system. Power is the average power at the peak of the tuning curve, typically 800 nm, or at the operating wavelength. Both Coherent Mira and Spectra Physics Tsunami systems can be pumped with a 5,8 or 10 W green laser source. When two powers are given these are for 5 W and 10 W pumped. Higher pump power may be needed for full tuning range. Between 925 and 960 nm Ti:Sapphire lasers need to be purged to ensure that no water vapour is present within the laser cavity. Computer tunable systems are sealed to prevent this complication and are endowed of a pointing stability system that reduces the need of new alignment following tuning across a wide range of wavelengths. The authors acknowledge John Girkin for providing more complete data.

ISSN: 1475-925X