Nonlinear optical interference of two successive coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering signals for biological imaging applications

J Biomed Opt. 2007 Mar-Apr;12(2):024010. doi: 10.1117/1.2718560.

Abstract

The nonlinear optical interference of two successively generated coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) signals from two different samples placed in series is demonstrated for the imaging performance, in which a collinear phase matching geometry is used. The relative phase of two CARS signals is controlled by a phase-shifting unit made of dispersive glass materials of which the thickness can be precisely varied. The clear interference fringes are observed as the thickness of the phase-shifting unit changes. The interference effect is then utilized to achieve a better quality CARS image of a biological tissue taken from a mouse skin. Placing the tissue in the second sample position and performing raster scans of the laser beams on it, we can acquire a CARS image of higher contrast compared to the normal image obtained without interferometric implementation.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Interferometry / methods*
  • Mice
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Refractometry / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin / cytology*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*