title: Optimally chirped multimodal CARS microscopy based on a single Ti:sapphire oscillator.
abstract: We demonstrate high performance coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy of live cells and tissues with user-variable spectral resolution and broad Raman tunability (2500 - 4100 cm(-1)), using a femtosecond Ti:Sapphire pump and photonic crystal fiber output for the broadband synchronized Stokes pulse. Spectral chirp of the fs laser pulses was a user-variable parameter for optimization in a spectral focusing implementation of multimodal CARS microscopy. High signal-to-noise, high contrast multimodal imaging of live cells and tissues was achieved with pixel dwell times of 2-8 micros and low laser powers (< 30 mW total).
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada.
authors.forename: Adrian F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Pegoraro
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ridsdale
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.forename: Yiwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: John Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pezacki
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stolow
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*