title: Detection of chemical interfaces in coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering                 microscopy: Dk-CARS. I. Axial interfaces.
abstract: We develop a full vectorial theoretical investigation of the chemical interface detection in conventional coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy. In Part I, we focus on the detection of axial interfaces (i.e., parallel to the optical axis) following a recent experimental demonstration of the concept [Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 213905 (2010)]. By revisiting the Young's double slit experiment, we show that background-free microscopy and spectroscopy is achievable through the angular analysis of the CARS far-field radiation pattern. This differential CARS in k space (Dk-CARS) technique is interesting for fast detection of interfaces between molecularly different media. It may be adapted to other coherent and resonant scattering processes.
authors.affiliation: Institut Fresnel, Mosaic group, CNRS UMR 6133, Aix-Marseille Université, École Centrale de Marseille, Domaine Universitaire Saint-Jérôme, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gachet
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rigneault
mesh_terms: D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008863:Microspheres; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D013382:Subtraction Technique