Super-Spatial- and -Spectral-Resolution in Vibrational Imaging via Saturated Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering

Abstract

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) is a vibrational spectroscopic technique offering high sensitivity, chemical selectivity, and three-dimensional visualization---but with spatial resolution limited by the wave nature of light. The authors exploit the saturation of the CARS signal to break that limit, increasing both spatial and spectral resolution and reducing signal background, and thus extending the utility of CARS microscopy in materials science, biology, and beyond.