Quantitative investigation of the multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan method for simultaneous phase measurement and compensation of femtosecond laser pulses

TLDR

MIIPS is a technique for characterizing and compensating femtosecond laser pulses. The authors validated MIIPS by measuring group‑velocity dispersion in glass and quartz and by correcting phase distortions introduced by high‑NA objectives. MIIPS achieved 3 mrad precision over a 90 nm bandwidth, corrected high‑NA objective distortions, improved pulse‑shaping accuracy, and remained functional through scattering biological tissue.

Abstract

Femtosecond pulse characterization and compensation using multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan (MIIPS) [Opt. Lett.29, 775 (2004)] was rigorously tested. MIIPS was found to have 3 mrad precision within the 90 nm bandwidth of the pulses. Group-velocity dispersion measurements of glass and quartz provided independent accuracy tests. Phase distortions from high-numerical-aperture objectives were measured and corrected using MIIPS, an important requirement for reproducible two-photon microscopy. Phase compensation greatly improved the pulse-shaping results through a more accurate delivery of continuous and binary phase functions to the sample. MIIPS measurements were possible through the scattering of biological tissue, a consideration for biomedical imaging.