Posted in | News | Laser | Microscopy

Mobius Photonics Laser System Used in STED Microscopy Experiments at Max-Planck Institute

Mobius Photonics, an innovative producer of short pulsed fiber laser sources (IR, green, and UV laser), announces that its G1+ Laser System has been used in stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy experiments at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry (Göttingen, Germany). The result was a novel laser source for STED microscopy that should lead to more compact and versatile systems in the coming years.

STED microscopy is a noninvasive microscopy technique that, although relying on laser light focused by regular lenses, images fluorescent samples with a resolution by an order of magnitude better than the diffraction limit set by the wavelength of light. STED microscopy has been the first technique to radically overcome the diffraction barrier of lens-based (far-field) optical microscopy and to be applied in the biomedical sciences. However, its application has been hampered by the availability of suitable light sources, as current technologies are limited by complexity, power, repetition rate, or wavelength. Accordingly, research has focused on developing a system based on a novel laser source that could enhance the technique's capabilities -- specifically, the ability to use fluorescent markers of choice.

"In the past, due to the lack of compact and widely tunable sources, STED systems have focused on markers that emit around 650 nanometers," said Manuel Leonardo, co-founder and vice president of Mobius Photonics. "Max Planck researchers, Brian Rankin and STED inventor Stefan Hell, have now used our G1+ Laser System in an experimental set up that generates multiple wavelengths in the visible region, opening up new possibilities for using a variety of markers. This could be an important step toward more versatile compact STED systems than are available today."

The G1+ Laser System family produces several wavelengths from the IR through the UV. Based on a pulsed master-oscillator, fiber-power-amplifier (MOFPA) architecture, G1+ systems allow diffraction-limited operation over a range of user-adjustable pulse repetition frequencies, pulse widths, and duty cycles.

For more details, please see "STED microscopy with a MHz pulsed stimulated-Raman-scattering source," by Brian R. Rankin and Stefan W. Hell, Optics Express, Vol. 17 Issue 18, pp.15679-15684 (2009). (http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-17-18-15679)

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.