Patent ID: 8279521
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: G02B,H01S

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a laser light source oscillating extremely short pulsed laser light; an optical system configured to transmit laser light emitted from the laser light source, the optical system comprising at least one of a beam-shaping optical system and a collimator optical system, and the optical system comprising a reflected-light generator configured to reflect a part of the transmitted laser light; a polarization-dependent element disposed downstream of the optical system into which the laser light transmitted by the optical system enters, wherein characteristics of outgoing light are changed in accordance with a polarization state of incident light; a first λ/4 wave plate disposed between the laser light source and the reflected-light generator; and a second λ/4 wave plate configured to be fixed so as to maintain a relative direction around an optical axis with respect to the first λ/4 wave plate, wherein the second λ/4 wave plate is disposed between the reflected-light generator and the polarization-dependent element; and a microscope main body comprising a scanner that scans the laser light two-dimensionally, an objective lens that focuses the laser light on a specimen, and a photodetector that detects light from the specimen caused by the laser light; wherein the microscope main body is a multi-photon excitation microscope and is disposed downstream of the second λ/4 wave plate; wherein the laser light emitted from the second λ/4 wave plate comprises a linearly polarized light; and wherein the polarization-dependent element is an acousto-optic device and is disposed between the second λ/4 wave plate and the scanner of the microscope main body.