Measurement of two-photon excitation cross sections of molecular fluorophores with data from 690 to 1050 nm

Measurements of two-photon fluorescence excitation (TPE) spectra are presented for 11 common molecular fluorophores in the excitation wavelength range 690 nm < lambda < 1050 nn. Results of excitation by similar to 100-fs pulses of a mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser are corroborated by single-mode cw Ti:sapphire excitation data in the range 710 nm < lambda < 840 nn. Absolute values of the TPE cross section for Rhodamine B and Fluorescein are obtained by comparison with one-photon-excited fluorescence, assuming equal emission quantum efficiencies. TPE action cross sections for the other nine fluorophores are also determined. No differences between one-photon- and two-photon-excited fluorescence emission spectra are found. TPE emission spectra are independent of excitation wavelength. With both pulsed and cw excitation the fluorescence emission intensities are strictly proportional to the square of the excitation intensity to within +/-4% for excitation intensities sufficiently below excited-state saturation. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America