A low-repetition-rate (10-Hz), picosecond (ps) optical parametric generator (OPG) system produces higher energy output levels in a more robust and reliable system than previously available. A picosecond OPG stage is seeded at an idler wavelength with a high-power diode laser and its output at ˜566 nm is amplified in a pulsed dye amplifier (PDA) stage having two dye cells, resulting in signal enhancement by more than three orders of magnitude. The nearly transform-limited beam at ˜566 nm has a pulse width of ˜170 ps with an overall output of ˜2.3 mJ/pulse. A spatial filter between the OPG and PDA stages and a pinhole between the two dye cells improve high output beam quality and enhances coarse and fine wavelength tuning capability.

A tube preparation step of preparing a resin tube that has a tube wall impregnable with a solution including a fine substance and is made of a light-transmitting resin material, a solution preparation step of preparing a solution that includes a fine fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence or a fine scattering substance that scatters light as an oscillation material and an impregnation step of causing the resin tube to be immersed in the solution and causing the tube wall of the resin tube to be impregnated with the oscillation material, are included.

A tube preparation step of preparing a resin tube that has a tube wall impregnable with a solution including a fine substance and is made of a light-transmitting resin material, a solution preparation step of preparing a solution that includes a fine fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence or a fine scattering substance that scatters light as an oscillation material and an impregnation step of causing the resin tube to be immersed in the solution and causing the tube wall of the resin tube to be impregnated with the oscillation material, are included.

Disclosed are photonic particles and methods of using particles in biological samples. The particles are configured to emit laser light when energetically stimulated by, e.g., a pump source. The particles may include a gain medium with inorganic materials, an optical cavity with high refractive index, and a coating with organic materials. The particles may be smaller than 3 microns along their longest axes. The particles may attach to each other to form, e.g., doublets and triplets. The particles may be injection-locked by coupling an injection beam into a particle while pumping so that an injection seed is amplified to develop into laser oscillation. A microscopy system may include a pump source, beam scanner, spectrometer with resolution of less than 1 nanometer and acquisition rate of more than 1 kilohertz, and spectral analyzer configured to distinguish spectral peaks of laser output from broadband background.

Disclosed are photonic particles and methods of using particles in biological samples. The particles are configured to emit laser light when energetically stimulated by, e.g., a pump source. The particles may include a gain medium with inorganic materials, an optical cavity with high refractive index, and a coating with organic materials. The particles may be smaller than 3 microns along their longest axes. The particles may attach to each other to form, e.g., doublets and triplets. The particles may be injection-locked by coupling an injection beam into a particle while pumping so that an injection seed is amplified to develop into laser oscillation. A microscopy system may include a pump source, beam scanner, spectrometer with resolution of less than 1 nanometer and acquisition rate of more than 1 kilohertz, and spectral analyzer configured to distinguish spectral peaks of laser output from broadband background.

A combination of microvalves and waveguides may enable the creation of reconfigurable on-chip light sources compatible with planar sample preparation and particle sensing architecture using either single-mode or multi-mode interference (MMI) waveguides. A first type of light source is a DFB laser source with lateral gratings created by the light valves. Moreover, feedback for creating a narrowband light source does not have to be a DFB grating in the active region. A DBR configuration (Bragg mirrors on one or both ends of the active region) or simple mirrors at the end of the cavity can also be used. Alternately, ring resonators may be created using a valve coupled to a bus waveguide where the active gain medium is either incorporated in the ring or inside an enclosed fluid. The active light source may be activated by moving a fluid trap and/or a solid-core optical component defining its active region.

A combination of microvalves and waveguides may enable the creation of reconfigurable on-chip light sources compatible with planar sample preparation and particle sensing architecture using either single-mode or multi-mode interference (MMI) waveguides. A first type of light source is a DFB laser source with lateral gratings created by the light valves. Moreover, feedback for creating a narrowband light source does not have to be a DFB grating in the active region. A DBR configuration (Bragg mirrors on one or both ends of the active region) or simple mirrors at the end of the cavity can also be used. Alternately, ring resonators may be created using a valve coupled to a bus waveguide where the active gain medium is either incorporated in the ring or inside an enclosed fluid. The active light source may be activated by moving a fluid trap and/or a solid-core optical component defining its active region.

A laser whose emission is modulated by ultrasound is presented. The laser is usually micron-sized. In response to ultra-sound modulation, the laser emission increases and decreases. Such a change in emission can be detected by external optical detectors. This type of laser can be used as a new type of imaging modality, in which laser emission in combination with sound waves or ultra-sound waves, is used for imaging Laser emission has a much narrower spectral linewidth and stronger intensity than fluorescence and therefore is able to achieve higher sensitivity, whereas sound waves are used to provide a better spatial resolution of the laser emission from the laser. In ultrasound modulated laser based imaging, multiple lasers can be placed inside cells or tissues.

A fingerprint sensor-compatible overlay material which uses anisotropic conductive material to enable accurate imaging of a fingerprint through an overlay is disclosed. The anisotropic conductive material has increased conductivity in a direction orthogonal to the fingerprint sensor, increasing the capacitive coupling of the fingerprint to the sensor surface, allowing the fingerprint sensor to accurately image the fingerprint through the overlay. Methods for forming a fingerprint sensor-compatible overlay are also disclosed.

A combination of microvalves and waveguides may enable the creation of reconfigurable on-chip light sources compatible with planar sample preparation and particle sensing architecture using either single-mode or multi-mode interference (MMI) waveguides. A first type of light source is a DFB laser source with lateral gratings created by the light valves. Moreover, feedback for creating a narrowband light source does not have to be a DFB grating in the active region. A DBR configuration (Bragg mirrors on one or both ends of the active region) or simple mirrors at the end of the cavity can also be used. Alternately, ring resonators may be created using a valve coupled to a bus waveguide where the active gain medium is either incorporated in the ring or inside an enclosed fluid. The active light source may be activated by moving a fluid trap and/or a solid-core optical component defining its active region.