title: Time-gated single photon counting enables separation of CARS microscopy data from multiphoton-excited tissue autofluorescence.
abstract: We demonstrate time-gated confocal imaging as a means to separate coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy data from multi-photon excited endogenous fluorescence in tissue. CARS is a quasi-instantaneous process and its signal decay time is only limited by the system's instrument response function (IRF). Signals due to two-photon-excited (TPE) tissue autofluorescence with excited state lifetimes on the nanosecond scale can be identified and separated from the CARS signal by employing time-gating techniques. We demonstrate this improved contrast on the example of CARS microscopy of intact roots of plant seedlings as well as on rat arterial tissue.
authors: Sonny
authors: S
authors: Ly
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: McNerney
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Fore
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Chan
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Huser