We present a robust, multi-line, tunable and power scalable ultrashort optical source suitable for nonlinear optical imaging. A systematic characterization of the seed oscillator, pulse stretcher, pre-amp, and power-amp along with the methods of pulse compression, pulse division and the phenomenon of soliton self frequency shift through a photonic crystal fiber arepresented to make a tunable and multi-colored pulsed source capable of dual polarization and power-scalable operation.
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