Sub-diffraction illumination source for Saturated Transient Absorption Microscopy

Many emerging technologies in solar energy, electronics, and biophysics require a deep understanding of the behavior of materials on the nanoscale. Recent advances in high resolution chemical imaging show great promise for improving the resolution of widely applicable chemical imaging techniques. We propose to develop a commercial tunable, ultrashort pulse laser source with sub-diffraction illumination capabilities that will help make super resolution chemical imaging available to a broad range of scientists. Our approach is to build an optical parametric amplifier based on our commercial fiber laser platform. This OPA will be added as additional layer on the existing fiber laser, keeping the footprint small. The resolution enhancement stage will also be packaged as a layer within the source in Phase II, allowing us to end the program with a fully packaged, tunable ultrafast source for sub-diffraction illumination ready to be sold to the academic markets. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: A compact, robust, easy to use source for tunable, high-resolution chemical imaging could displace some user from large, complicated, and costly bulk laser solutions. Many researchers could benefit from such a system, improving image quality and enabling rapid development of next generation nanotechnology in fields as diverse as energy, electronics, and pharmacology.