Two-photon microscopy methods need fast on/off digital modulation of the ultrafast laser beam. This whitepaper explains how and why Coherent lasers now provide optional direct modulation.
An example of high contrast, fast frame rate calcium imaging enabled by a Coherent Discovery laser equipped with TPC. Figure credit Weber Lab, University of Zurich)
Summary
Two-photon microscopy is a widely used 3D imaging tool in neuroscience and other fields. Achieving fast, high contrast imaging requires careful integration of the laser and microscope optics and electronics, to support the ability to modulate the laser source with <µs risetimes.
This whitepaper explains why this is a hurdle for wavelength tunable lasers, and how Coherent eliminates this challenge for microscope builders and users, with a novel approach that provides high contrast (1000:1) direct laser modulation across a full octave tuning range of 660 nm to 1320 nm, in a hands-free automated package.