Video-rate wide-field coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy with collinear nonphase-matching illumination

Abstract

A simple scheme for video-rate wide-field coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is presented. The method is based on collinear nonphase-matching illumination. The mechanisms leading to CARS signal generation are investigated. We find that refraction-mediated phase-matching is the main effect. Video-rate wide-field CARS microscopy of polystyrene beads and CARS wide-field images of C. elegans embryos are shown, and the capabilities and the limitations of the scheme are discussed.