Patent ID: 7847933
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: G01J,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of performing imaging or spectroscopic analysis of a sample that contains one or more molecules using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), comprising: generating Stokes light pulses along a first light path and pump light pulses along a second optical path; selecting and shaping select Stokes light pulses and pump light pulses to form temporally overlapping chirped Stokes and pump light pulses, including imparting a roof-pulse shape to either the Stokes light pulses or the pump light pulses; directing the chirped Stokes and pump light pulses to a select one of the at least one molecules so as to adiabatically excite a resonant mode of the select one molecule while leaving off-resonant modes unperturbed, thereby generating a sample signal in a direction defined by a phase-matching condition; and receiving and analyzing the sample signal.