One-laser interferometric broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering

We introduce an interferometric technique for eliminating the non-resonant background of broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. CARS microscopy has been used for imaging a number of biological samples and processes, but the studies are mostly limited to detecting lipids in biological systems by probing the C-H stretch. Non-resonant background and incoherent noise sources can easily overwhelm less intense signals from other molecular vibrations. In this study, we demonstrate a one-laser broadband interferometric technique that separates the spontaneous Raman scattering-related component of the CARS signal from the non-resonant background using liquid benzonitrile as a model system.