Unidirectional guided resonances in anisotropic waveguides.

We show that anisotropic planar anti-guiding waveguide structures with two radiation channels toward the surrounding cladding materials can support unidirectional guided resonances (UGRs), where radiation is canceled in one of the radiation channels and redirected into the other. Their formation is subtle as it requires breaking the so-called polar anisotropy-symmetry of the structures. Then, UGRs appear at specific wavelengths and light propagation directions, are robust, and are characterized by phase singularities in the channel in which radiation is canceled.

Slow light mediated by mode topological transitions in hyperbolic waveguides.

We show that slow light in hyperbolic waveguides is linked to topological transitions in the dispersion diagram as the film thickness changes. The effect appears in symmetric planar structures with type II films, whose optical axis (OA) lies parallel to the waveguide interfaces. The transitions are mediated by elliptical mode branches that coalesce along the OA with anomalously ordered hyperbolic mode branches, resulting in a saddle point.

Angular control of anisotropy-induced bound states in the continuum.

Radiation of leaky modes existing in anisotropic waveguides can be cancelled by destructive interference at special propagation directions relative to the optical axis orientation, resulting in fully bound states surrounded by radiative modes. Here we study the variation of the loci of such special directions in terms of the waveguide constitutive parameters. We show that the angular loci of the bound states are sensitive to several design parameters, allowing bound states to exist for a broad range of angular directions and wavelengths and suggesting applications in filtering and sensing.

STED imaging performance estimation by means of Fourier transform analysis.

Due to relatively high powers used in STED, biological samples may be affected by the illumination in the process of image acquisition. Similarly, the performance of the system may be limited by the sample itself. Optimization of the STED parameters taking into account the sample itself is therefore a complex task as there is no clear methodology that can determine the image improvement in an objective and quantitative manner.

Fast monitoring of in-vivo conformational changes in myosin using single scan polarization-SHG microscopy.

Fast imaging of molecular changes under high-resolution and label-free conditions are essential for understanding in-vivo processes, however, current techniques are not able to monitor such changes in real time. Polarization sensitive second harmonic generation (PSHG) imaging is a minimally invasive optical microscopy technique capable of quantifying molecular conformational changes occurring below the diffraction limit. Up to now, such information is generally retrieved by exciting the sample with different linear polarizations.

Two-photon fluorescence imaging with 30 fs laser system tunable around 1 micron.

We developed a low-cost, low-noise, tunable, high-peak-power, ultrafast laser system based on a SESAM-modelocked, solid-state Yb tungstate laser plus spectral broadening via a microstructured fiber followed by pulse compression. The spectral selection, tuning, and pulse compression are performed with a simple prism compressor. The output pulses are tunable from 800 to 1250 nm, with the pulse duration down to 25 fs, and average output power up to 150 mW, at 80 MHz pulse repetition rate.

Lossless directional guiding of light in dielectric nanosheets using Dyakonov surface waves.

Guiding light at the nanoscale is usually accomplished using surface plasmons. However, plasmons propagating at the surface of a metal sustain propagation losses. A different type of surface excitation is the Dyakonov surface wave.

Quantitative imaging of microtubule alteration as an early marker of axonal degeneration after ischemia in neurons.

Neuronal death can be preceded by progressive dysfunction of axons. Several pathological conditions such as ischemia can disrupt the neuronal cytoskeleton. Microtubules are basic structural components of the neuronal cytoskeleton that regulate axonal transport and neuronal function.

Effect of molecular organization on the image histograms of polarization SHG microscopy.

Based on its polarization dependency, second harmonic generation (PSHG) microscopy has been proven capable to structurally characterize molecular architectures in different biological samples. By exploiting this polarization dependency of the SHG signal in every pixel of the image, average quantitative structural information can be retrieved in the form of PSHG image histograms. In the present study we experimentally show how the PSHG image histograms can be affected by the organization of the SHG active molecules.

Practical dyakonons.

We show that engineered photonic metamaterials composed of alternating layers of suitable dielectrics and metals can support different kinds of surface waves (SWs) under robust and readily achievable experimental conditions. The supported SWs include Dyakonov SWs, hybrid plasmons, and Dyakonov plasmons. In particular, in contrast to conventional physical settings, we show that the high form birefringence exhibited by the metamaterials allows Dyakonov SWs, or dyakonons, to exist within large angular existence domains and levels of localization similar to plasmons, thus making dyakonons available for practical applications.

Image formation by linear and nonlinear digital scanned light-sheet fluorescence microscopy with Gaussian and Bessel beam profiles.

We present the implementation of a combined digital scanned light-sheet microscope (DSLM) able to work in the linear and nonlinear regimes under either Gaussian or Bessel beam excitation schemes. A complete characterization of the setup is performed and a comparison of the performance of each DSLM imaging modality is presented using in vivoCaenorhabditis elegans samples. We found that the use of Bessel beam nonlinear excitation results in better image contrast over a wider field of view.

Coupling plasmons and dyakonons.

We study the coupling of plasmons and Dyakonov surface waves propagating at the interfaces between isotropic-birefringent-metal layered structures. Efficient coupling is shown to occur with a proper choice of the crystal birefringence, the refractive index of the isotropic medium, and the light propagation direction relative to the crystal optical axis. In the case of low-loss metals, coupling efficiencies as high as 90% are predicted to be possible.

Measurement and correction of in vivo sample aberrations employing a nonlinear guide-star in two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy.

We demonstrate that sample induced aberrations can be measured in a nonlinear microscope. This uses the fact that two-photon excited fluorescence naturally produces a localized point source inside the sample: the nonlinear guide-star (NL-GS). The wavefront emitted from the NL-GS can then be recorded using a Shack-Hartmann sensor.

Compact ultrafast semiconductor disk laser: targeting GFP based nonlinear applications in living organisms.

We present a portable ultrafast Semiconductor Disk Laser (SDL) (or vertical extended cavity surface emitting laser-VECSELs), to be used for nonlinear microscopy. The SDL is modelocked using a quantum-dot semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM), delivering an average output power of 287 mW, with 1.5 ps pulses at 500 MHz and a central wavelength of 965 nm.

Dyakonov surface wave resonant transmission.

The role of Dyakonov surface waves in the transmission through structures composed of birefringent media is theoretically explored. In the case of structures using prisms, unexpected high transmission above the critical angle due to resonant excitation of Dyakonov surface waves is predicted. This transmission is produced only when TE polarized incident wave reaches the interface supporting the surface waves within a narrow interval of angles, for both the angle of incidence and the angle with respect to the optic axis of the birefringent media.

Third-harmonic generation for the study of Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis.

Live microscopy techniques (i.e., differential interference contrast, confocal microscopy, etc.

Fast image analysis in polarization SHG microscopy.

Pixel resolution polarization-sensitive second harmonic generation (PSHG) imaging has been recently shown as a promising imaging modality, by largely enhancing the capabilities of conventional intensity-based SHG microscopy. PSHG is able to obtain structural information from the elementary SHG active structures, which play an important role in many biological processes. Although the technique is of major interest, acquiring such information requires long offline processing, even with current computers.

A simple scanless two-photon fluorescence microscope using selective plane illumination.

We demonstrate a simple scanless two-photon (2p) excited fluorescence microscope based on selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM). Optical sectioning capability is presented and depth-resolved imaging of cameleon protein in C. elegans pharyngeal muscle is implemented.

Polarization conversion spectroscopy of hybrid modes.

Enhanced polarization conversion in reflection for the Otto and Kretschmann configurations is introduced as a new method for hybrid-mode spectroscopy. Polarization conversion in reflection occurs when hybrid modes are excited in a guiding structure composed of at least one anisotropic medium. In contrast to a dark dip, in this case modes are associated with a peak in the converted reflectance spectrum, increasing the detection sensitivity and avoiding confusion with reflection dips associated with other processes, such as transmission.

Signalling effect of NIR pulsed lasers on axonal growth.

In this work we show that a pulsed laser light placed at a distance is able to modulate the growth of axons of primary neuronal cell cultures. In our experiments continuous wave (CW), chopped CW and modelocked fs (FS) laser light was focused through a microscope objective to a point placed at a distance of about 15 microm from the growth cone. We found that CW light does not produce any significant influence on the axon growth.

Estimation of the effective orientation of the SHG source in primary cortical neurons.

In this paper we provide, for the first time to our knowledge, the effective orientation of the SHG source in cultured cortical neuronal processes in vitro. This is done by the use of the polarization sensitive second harmonic generation (PSHG) imaging microscopy technique. By performing a pixel-level resolution analysis we found that the SHG dipole source has a distribution of angles centered at thetae =33.

Quantitative discrimination between endogenous SHG sources in mammalian tissue, based on their polarization response.

In this study, the second harmonic generation (SHG) response to polarization and subsequent data analysis is used to discriminate, in the same image, different SHG source architectures with pixel resolution. This is demonstrated in a mammalian tissue containing both skeletal muscle and fibrilar collagen. The SHG intensity variation with the input polarization (PSHG) is fitted pixel by pixel in the image using an algorithm based on a generalized biophysical model.

Observation of Dyakonov surface waves.

We report the first experimental observation of Dyakonov surface waves existing at the interface of transparent anisotropic crystals. A Otto-Kretchmann configuration was used to excite the surface waves at the interface between a potassium titanyl phosphate biaxial crystal and an index-matching liquid fulfilling the conditions at which the waves exist. The signature of surface wave excitation was obtained by using enhanced polarization-conversion reflectance phenomena.

In vivo, pixel-resolution mapping of thick filaments' orientation in nonfibrilar muscle using polarization-sensitive second harmonic generation microscopy.

The polarization dependence of second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy is used to uncover structural information in different muscle cells in a living Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) nematode. This is done by using a generalized biophysical model in which element ratios for the associated second-order nonlinear tensor and angular orientations for thick filaments are retrieved using a pixel-by-pixel fitting algorithm.

Influence of distant femtosecond laser pulses on growth cone fillopodia.

A 3 mW focused femtosecond laser spot at a distance (>15 mum) has shown to attract the fillopodia from growth cones of primary neuronal cell cultures (mice E15). The phenomenological behavior of fillopodia is studied under short durations (~40 min) and different laser light conditions. The analysis of the fillopodia movement showed that they become significantly attracted towards the focused femtosecond laser light.