Compact fibre-based coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering spectroscopy and interferometric coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering from a single femtosecond fibre-laser oscillator

We demonstrate a new approach to CARS spectroscopy by efficiently synthesizing synchronized narrow-bandwidth (less than 10 cm⁻¹) pump and Stokes pulses (frequency difference continuously tunable upto ≈3000 cm⁻¹) based on spectral compression together with second harmonic generation (in periodically-poled nonlinear crystals) of femtosecond pulses emitted by a single compact Er-fibre oscillator. For a far better signal to non-resonant background contrast, interferometric CARS (I-CARS) is demonstrated and CARS signal enhancement upto three orders of magnitude is achieved by constructive interference with an auxiliary local oscillator at anti-Stokes field, also synthesized by spectral compression of pulses emitted from the same fibre oscillator.     

All-ultraviolet time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

We report all-UV coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) in calcite with 250-280 nm pump, Stokes, probe, and anti-Stokes light. UV CARS efficiency is approximately 7x higher than for comparable scattering in the visible, 480-540 nm. Time-resolved UV CARS reveals lengthening of the dephasing time of 1086 cm(-1) CO3(2-) internal vibrations from 4 to 7 ps with increasing vibrational excitation, consistent with a phonon depletion model.     

Fourier-transform coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy

We report a novel Fourier-transform-based implementation of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. The method employs a single femtosecond laser source and a Michelson interferometer to create two pulse replicas that are fed into a scanning multiphoton microscope. By varying the time delay between the pulses, we time-resolve the CARS signal, permitting easy removal of the nonresonant background while providing high resolution, spectrally resolved images of CARS modes over the laser bandwidth (approximately 1500 cm(-1)). We demonstrate the method by imaging polystyrene beads in solvent.     

Polarization coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy

We report polarization coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (P-CARS) microscopy that allows vibrational imaging with high sensitivity and spectral selectivity. The nonresonant background signals from both Raman scatterers and the solvent are efficiently suppressed in P-CARS microscopy. We demonstrate P-CARS imaging of unstained cells based on the contrast of the protein amide I band.     

相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微成像技术研究

基于全量子理论对相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射(CARS)过程进行了分析, 在此基础上搭建了单频CARS显微成像系统, 获得了不同尺寸聚苯乙烯微球高对比度的CARS显微图像. 为了标定成像系统的空间分辨率, 采用逐点扫描方式对直径为110 nm聚苯乙烯微球成像, 从而重构出系统的点扩展函数. 结果表明: 该CARS显微成像系统的横向空间分辨率约为600 nm, 而由阿贝衍射极限决定的理论空间分辨率约为300 nm. 分析了导致分辨率降低的原因, 并提出了解决方案. 为实现纳米分辨的CARS显微成像打下了坚实的基础.     

相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微镜的成像特性

对自身不发荧光且不便于荧光标记的化学或生物学样品，集相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射与激光共焦扫描显微镜于一身的相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微镜是一种好的选择。因为相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射是一种非线性过程，相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微镜的显微成像特性与一般的共焦显微镜非常不同。首先计算了焦点附近相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射激发场的偏振分布，然后，利用格林函数方法，得到了以赫兹偶极子为源的波动方程的精确解，发现对于不同的成像配置和样品形状，像场的相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射场分布非常不同，因此传统的显微镜成像表征方式（如点扩展函数）将不再能描述相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微镜的成像特性。     

Highly sensitive single-beam heterodyne coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

Single-beam coherent anti-Stokes Raman-scattering (CARS) microspectroscopy achieves a complete CARS scheme with a femtosecond laser. Here, we introduce heterodyne detection in a simple experimental extension: the optical fields driving the CARS process and the local oscillator used for heterodyning are derived from a single beam of ultrashort laser pulses by pulse shaping. The heterodyne signal is amplified by more than 3 orders of magnitude and is linearly dependent on the concentration of Raman scatterers. This dramatically increases the sensitivity of chemically selective detection at microscopic resolution while maintaining the simplicity of the single-beam setup.     

Molecular orientation effects in coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

The dependence of CARS susceptibilities on molecular orientation is considered for a diatomic or symmetric-top molecule. The angular distribution of the internuclear axis during an excitation time interval that is short compared with a simple molecular rotation was investigated. The part of the molecules involved in the excited channels of the two-photon resonance and their angular distribution were deduced. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

纳米分辨相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微成像

采用附加探测光声子耗尽法来实现超衍射极限相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射显微成像. 此方法引入一束环形分布的附加探测光来消耗点扩展函数周边的相干声子, 实现点扩展函数的改造, 从而达到超越衍射极限的空间分辨率. 为了获得更高的空间分辨率和更佳的相位匹配条件, 通常需采用高数值孔径物镜对抽运光、斯托克斯光和探测光进行聚焦, 此时标量衍射理论不再成立. 基于矢量衍射理论, 分析了线偏振光、圆偏振光先后经过螺旋相位片和高数值孔径物镜后的光强分布, 结果表明: 圆偏振光在高数值孔径物镜后焦平面的光强分布呈中心对称状, 较线偏振环形光更适合作为附加探测光. 此外, 采用全量子理论分析了附加探测光声子耗尽法. 结果表明: 当附加探测光与探测光强度比为80时, 成像系统的横向空间分辨率可以达到45 nm; 继续提高附加探测光强度, 空间分辨将进一步提高.     

Chirped coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering as a high-spectral- and spatial-resolution microscopy

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is a promising tool for chemically selective imaging based on molecular vibrations. While CARS is currently used as a biological imaging tool, many variations are still being developed, perhaps the most important being multiplex CARS microscopy. Multiplex CARS has the advantage of comparing images based on different molecular vibrations without changing the excitation wavelengths. Here we demonstrate both high-spectral- and spatial-resolution multiplex CARS imaging of polymer films, using a simple scheme for chirped CARS with a spectral bandwidth of 300 cm(-1).     

Wide-field coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy with non-phase-matching illumination

We have developed and tested a wide-field coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy technique, which provides the simultaneous imaging of an extended illuminated area without scanning. This method is based on the non-phase-matching illumination of a sample and imaging of a CARS signal with a CCD camera using conventional microscope optics. We have identified a set of conditions on the illumination and imaging optics, as well as on sample preparation. Imaging of test objects proved high spatial resolution and chemical selectivity of this technique.     

Dual-pump dual-broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering in reacting flows

A dual-pump, dual-broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering system for simultaneous measurements of temperature and concentrations of N2, O2, and CO2 in reacting flows is demonstrated. In this system pure rotational transitions of N2-O2 and rovibrational transitions of N2-CO2 are probed simultaneously with two narrowband pump beams, a broadband pump beam, and a broadband Stokes beam. The main advantage of this technique is that it permits accurate temperature measurements at both low and high temperatures as well as concentration measurements of three molecules.     

Heterodyne coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) imaging

We have achieved rapid nonlinear vibrational imaging free of nonresonant background with heterodyne coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) interferometric microscopy. This technique completely separates the real and imaginary responses of nonlinear susceptibility chi(3) and yields a signal that is linear in the concentration of vibrational modes. We show that heterodyne CARS microscopy permits the detection of weak vibrational resonances that are otherwise overshadowed by the strong interference of the nonresonant background.     

Measurement of coherence dynamics based on coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

Nanosecond time-resolved evolution of coherence between two nondegenerate ground levels has been investigated in Rb atomic vapor. Using STIRAP and fractional STIRAP, a time-dependent coherence is prepared and indirectly monitored by the generated coherent Raman scattering signal proportional to the coherence. The experimental data fit very well with numerical simulations. This technique have potential applications in nonlinear process based on atomic coherence.     

Detection of acetylene by electronic resonance-enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

We report the detection of acetylene (C₂H₂) at low concentrations by electronic resonance-enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (ERE-CARS). Visible pump and Stokes beams are tuned into resonance with Q-branch transitions in the v₂ Raman band of acetylene. An ultraviolet probe beam is tuned into resonance with the – electronic transition of C₂H₂, resulting in significant electronic resonance enhancement of the CARS signal. The signal is found to increase significantly with rising pressure for the pressure range 0.1–8 bar at 300 K. Collisional narrowing of the spectra appears to be important at 2 bar and above. A detection limit of approximately 25 ppm at 300 K and 1 bar is achieved for our experimental conditions. The signal magnitudes and the shape of the C₂H₂ spectrum are essentially constant for UV probe wavelengths from 233.0 to 238.5 nm, thus indicating that significant resonant enhancement is achieved even without tuning the probe beam into resonance with a specific electronic resonance transition. PACS 42.65.Dr; 42.62.Fi; 42.65.-k     

Single-molecule detection of biomolecules by surface-enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

We report on the applicability of combining surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering for high-sensitivity detection of biological molecules. We found that this combination of techniques provides more than 3 orders of signal enhancement compared with SERS and permits monitoring of biological molecules such as deoxyguanosine monophosphate (dGMP) and deoxyadenosine monophosphate at the single-molecule level. This combined technique also improved detection sensitivity for angiotensin peptide. As this is believed to be the first report of detection of dGMP at the single-molecule level, we suggest that this approach can serve as a new tool for biological studies.     

Interferometric polarization coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (IP-CARS) microscopy

We report a novel interferometry-based polarization coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (IP-CARS) implementation for effectively suppressing the nonresonant background while significantly amplifying the resonant signal for vibrational imaging. By modulating the phase difference between the two interference CARS signals generated from the same sample and measuring the peak-to-peak intensity of the periodically modulated interference CARS signal, the IP-CARS technique yields a sixfold improvement in the signal-to-background ratio compared with conventional CARS while providing an approximately 20-fold amplification of the resonant CARS signal compared with conventional polarization CARS. We demonstrate this method by imaging 4.69 microm polystyrene beads and unstained human epithelial cells immersed in water.     

Fiber four-wave mixing source for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy

We present a fiber-format picosecond light source for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy. Pulses from a Yb-doped fiber amplifier are frequency converted by four-wave mixing (FWM) in normal-dispersion photonic crystal fiber to produce a synchronized two-color picosecond pulse train. We show that seeding the FWM process overcomes the deleterious effects of group-velocity mismatch and allows efficient conversion into narrow frequency bands. The source generates more than 160 mW of nearly transform-limited pulses tunable from 775 to 815 nm. High-quality coherent Raman images of animal tissues and cells acquired with this source are presented.     

Dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering thermometry in a sooting turbulent pool fire

We present a dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) instrument, which has been constructed for the probing of temperature fluctuations in turbulent pool fires of meter-scale. The measurements were performed at the Fire Laboratory for Accreditation of Models and Experiments (FLAME) facility at Sandia National Laboratories, which provides a canonical fire plume in quiescent wind conditions, with well-characterized boundary conditions and access for modern laser-diagnostic probes. The details of the dual-pump CARS experimental facility for the fire-science application are presented, and single-laser-shot CARS spectra containing information from in-fire N₂, O₂, H₂, and CO₂ are provided. Single-shot temperatures are obtained from spectral fitting of the Raman Q-branch signature of N₂, from which histograms that estimate the pdf of the enthalpy-averaged temperature fluctuations at the center of the fire plume are presented. Results from two different sooting fire experiments reveal excellent test-to-test repeatability of the fire plume provided by FLAME, as well as the CARS-measured temperatures. The accuracy and precision of the CARS temperatures is assessed from measurements in furnace-heated air, where the temperature can be accurately determined by a thermocouple. At temperatures in excess of 500 K, the furnace results show that the CARS measurements are accurate to within 2-3% and precise to within ±3-5% of the measured absolute temperature.