Full-field Brillouin microscopy systems and methods

A method comprising:

• simultaneously illuminating multiple points in a sample with interrogating light having a first wavelength;
• selecting, via a detection arm, for Brillouin-scattered light in light simultaneously emitted from the multiple simultaneously-illuminated points in the sample, the Brillouin-scattered light having a second wavelength shifted from the first wavelength, the detection arm including an atomic vapor cell illuminated by pumping light;
• altering the atomic vapor cell by saturating a different electron transition of gas or vapor therein;
• after the altering, simultaneously illuminating the multiple points in the sample with the interrogating light having the first wavelength;
• and
• selecting, via the detection arm with the altered atomic vapor cell, for other Brillouin-scattered light in light simultaneously emitted from the multiple simultaneously-illuminated points in the sample, the other Brillouin-scattered light having a third wavelength different from the first and second wavelengths.

A system comprising:

• a Brillouin microscopy modality comprising:
• a first light source providing interrogating light having a first wavelength;
• an illumination optical assembly constructed to simultaneously illuminate multiple points in a sample with the interrogating light;
• a pump light source providing pumping light;
• and
• a detection optical assembly comprising an atomic vapor cell illuminated by the pumping light, the detection optical assembly being constructed to select for Brillouin-scattered light in light simultaneously emitted from the multiple simultaneously-illuminated points in the sample, the Brillouin-scattered light having a second wavelength shifted from the first wavelength,
• wherein the detection optical assembly comprises one or more polarization optical elements,
• the atomic vapor cell is constructed to change a polarization of the Brillouin-scattered light passing therethrough that has the second wavelength, and
• the one or more polarization optical elements use the changed polarization to select for the Brillouin-scattered light.