Multiphoton Imaging

Abstract

The nonlinear process of multiphoton imaging used in an optical microscope has inherent out-of-focus rejection of light and hence gives superior optical sectioning without a pinhole when compared with a confocal microscope. Thelateral resolution remains close to the diffraction limit of the imaging optics. The flexibility of combining the various nonlinear contrast mechanisms, multiphoton microscopy is likely to become a major imaging modality in biomedical fields. With the current development of femtosecond pulsed laser technology, it is to be expected that multiphoton optical microscopes will continue to be advanced for high-resolution imaging in a variety of biomedical applications. This chapter will first discuss the principle of multiphoton process and then multiphoton imaging modes.