Multi-wavelength, ultrashort pulse generation and delivery, with applications in microscopy

A laser system configured to generate ultrashort pulses to irradiate a sample, comprising:

• a mode locked laser configured to generate input pulses;
• a highly nonlinear fiber configured to generate a frequency broadened spectrum downstream of said mode locked laser, said broadened spectrum overlapping at least partially with a signal wavelength range Δλ,
• dispersive optical components disposed downstream from said mode locked laser;
• an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) disposed downstream from said mode locked laser, said OPA configured to amplify optical pulses with a corresponding pulse spectrum within the wavelength range Δλ;
• and
• an optical delivery fiber configured such that within said wavelength range Δλ, the net dispersion exhibited by said mode locked laser, said dispersive optical components, said OPA, and said optical delivery fiber substantially compensates a net dispersion of an end use apparatus disposed downstream from said laser system, said end use apparatus configured to irradiate a sample with femtosecond pulses generated with said OPA.