New approach to broadband CARS generation

ANYL 336

Young Jong Lee, youngjong.lee@nist.gov, Polymers Division, NIST, 100 Bureau Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 and Marcus T. Cicerone, cicerone@nist.gov, Polymers Division, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 8543, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8543.
Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) microscopy is maturing as a powerful imaging tool capable of real-time point-by-point chemical maps of living cells and tissues, without the need for labels or stains. In contrast to single-frequency CARS imaging, broadband CARS imaging is capable of measuring subtle changes in the vibrational fingerprint region. We have previously demonstrated that a single-laser broadband CARS microscope is able to acquire a vibrational spectrum of 3000 wavenumbers in a single exposure. I will present a new approach to broadband CARS generation controlling timing and chirping of pulses. Additionally, I will discuss its potential for greater sensitivity and effective suppression of non-resonant background.