Broadband fiber-optical parametric amplification for ultrafast time-stretch imaging at 10  μm

Abstract

We demonstrate a broadband all-fiber-optical parametric amplifier for ultrafast time-stretch imaging at 1.0 μm, featured by its compact design, alignment-free, high efficiency, and flexible gain spectrum through fiber nonlinearity- and dispersion-engineering: specifically on a dispersion-stabilized photonic-crystal fiber (PCF) to achieve a net gain over 20 THz (75 nm) and a highest gain of ~6000 (37.5 dB). Another unique feature of the parametric amplifier, over other optical amplifiers, is the coherent generation of a synchronized signal replica (called idler) that can be exploited to offer an extra 3-dB gain by optically superposing the signal and idler. It further enhances signal contrast and temporal stability. For proof-of-concept purpose, ultrahigh speed and diffraction-limited time-stretch microscopy is demonstrated with a single-shot line-scan rate of 13 MHz based on the dual-band (signal and idler) detection. Our scheme can be extended to other established bioimaging modalities, such as optical coherence tomography, near infrared fluorescence, and photoacoustic imaging, where weak signal detection at high speed is required.

Optical Data Compression in Time Stretch Imaging

“…High-throughput real-time instruments are needed to acquire large data sets and to detect and classify rare events. Examples include the time stretch camera [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]-a MHz-frame-rate bright-field imager, and the fluorescence imaging using radio frequency-tagged excitation (FIRE)-an ultra-high-frame-rate fluorescent camera for biological imaging [13]. The record throughputs of these instruments have enabled the discovery of optical rogue waves [14], the detection of cancer cells in blood with false positive rate of one cell in a million [15], and the highest performance analog-to-digital converter ever reported [16].…”

Sensitivity enhancement in swept-source optical coherence tomography by parametric balanced detector and amplifier

“…The two new schemes were denoted as SS-OCT with FOPA and SS-OCT with parametric BD to distinguish those from the conventional SS-OCT utilizing a traditional BD to detect the direct interference signal. Moreover, for simplicity purpose, both FOPA and parametric BD were referenced as optical parametric amplifier for life-science (OPALS) when they were used in bio-imaging [31]. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that OPALS is applied to improve detection sensitivity in SS-OCT. After comparing the sensitivity enhancement and bio-sample imaging results of OPALS-SS-OCT with the conventional SS-OCT, OPALS is evident to be suitable for SS-OCT systems' advancement.…”

Optical Data Compression in Time Stretch Imaging

“…High-throughput real-time instruments are needed to acquire large data sets and to detect and classify rare events. Examples include the time stretch camera [ 2 – 12 ]—a MHz-frame-rate bright-field imager, and the fluorescence imaging using radio frequency-tagged excitation (FIRE)—an ultra-high-frame-rate fluorescent camera for biological imaging [ 13 ]. The record throughputs of these instruments have enabled the discovery of optical rogue waves [ 14 ], the detection of cancer cells in blood with false positive rate of one cell in a million [ 15 ], and the highest performance analog-to-digital converter ever reported [ 16 ].…”