Stimulated emission depletion microscopy with stimulated Raman scattering light sources [Elektronische Ressource] / submitted by Brian Robert Rankin

Dissertationsubmitted to theCombined Faculties for the Natural Sciences and for Mathematicsof the Ruperto-Carola University of Heidelberg, Germanyfor the degree ofDoctor of Natural SciencesSubmitted byBrian Robert Rankinborn in Redwood City, California, USAthOral examination: November 24 , 2010Stimulated Emission Depletion MicroscopywithStimulated Raman Scattering Light SourcesReferees:Prof. Stefan W. HellProf. Dirk DubbersAbstract. Light sources offering a spectrally flexible output in the yellow-orange region of the visiblespectrum are of great interest for stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy because theyenable super-resolution imaging of the fluorescent proteins which emit in this range, in particular thegreen and yellow fluorescent proteins (GFP and YFP) and their variants.Lasers exist which produce yellow-orange light, but each has distinct disadvantages for use ina STED microscope. Titanium:sapphire lasers pumping optical parametric oscillators are used, butare technically complex and often require careful adjustment. Single-color fiber lasers are an optionbut do not offer valuable spectral tunability. Supercontinuum fiber lasers, due to the fact that theygenerate broad continua, have low pump conversion efficiencies to narrow wavelength ranges withintheir output spectrum, ultimately limiting the repetition rate and output power in a narrow spectralrange.