title: Tunable light source for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microspectroscopy based on the soliton self-frequency shift.
abstract: We present a photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based light source for generating tunable excitation pulses (pump and Stokes) that are applicable to coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microspectroscopy. The laser employed is an unamplified Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser oscillator. The CARS pump pulse is generated by spectral compression of a laser pulse in a PCF. The Stokes pulse is generated by redshifting a laser pulse in a PCF through the soliton self-frequency shift. This setup allows for probing up to 4000 cm(-1) with a spectral resolution of approximately 25 cm(-1). We characterize the stability and robustness of CARS microspectroscopy employing this light source.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. esbenra@phys.au.dk
authors.forename: Esben Ravn
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Andresen
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Birkedal
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thøgersen
authors.forename: Søren Rud
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Keiding