Maximum entropy and time‐domain Kramers–Kronig phase retrieval approaches are functionally equivalent for CARS microspectroscopy

Abstract

Phase retrieval methods are used to recover Raman spectra from multiplex and broadband coherent anti‐Stokes Raman spectroscopy signals. Two methods are in widespread use, one based on maximum entropy, and one based on a modified time‐domain Kramers–Kronig method. Here we compare these methods with respect to their ability to faithfully and robustly recover Raman spectra from coherent anti‐Stokes Raman spectroscopy spectra simulated to reproduce a range of scenarios expected for experimental data and their efficiency. We find that the time‐domain Kramers–Kronig and maximum entropy approaches perform in functionally equivalent ways, having only minor differences between them. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.