title: Direct imaging of molecular symmetry by coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering.
abstract: Nonlinear optical methods, such as coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering and stimulated Raman scattering, are able to perform label-free imaging, with chemical bonds specificity. Here we demonstrate that the use of circularly polarized light allows to retrieve not only the chemical nature but also the symmetry of the probed sample, in a single measurement. Our symmetry-resolved scheme offers simple access to the local organization of vibrational bonds and as a result provides enhanced image contrast for anisotropic samples, as well as an improved chemical selectivity. We quantify the local organization of vibrational bonds on crystalline and biological samples, thus providing information not accessible by spontaneous Raman and stimulated Raman scattering techniques. This work stands for a symmetry-resolved contrast in vibrational microscopy, with potential application in biological diagnostic.
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, Domaine Universitaire de Saint Jérôme, Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen, Marseille, F-13397, France.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cleff
authors.affiliation: Quebec Mental Health Institute Research Center, Laval University, Québec, Quebec, Canada G1J 2G3.|Centre d'Optique, Photonique et Laser (COPL), Laval University, Québec, Quebec, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasecka
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, Domaine Universitaire de Saint Jérôme, Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen, Marseille, F-13397, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrand
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, Domaine Universitaire de Saint Jérôme, Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen, Marseille, F-13397, France.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rigneault
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, Domaine Universitaire de Saint Jérôme, Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen, Marseille, F-13397, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brasselet
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, Institut Fresnel, UMR 7249, Domaine Universitaire de Saint Jérôme, Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen, Marseille, F-13397, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duboisset