Electronically preresonant stimulated Raman scattering microscopy in the visible

• DOI: 10.1063/5.0171725
• Publication Date: 2023-10-17T13:19:01Z
• Authors: A. J. X. Chooraku...; A. Pruccoli; M. J. Winterhalder; P. Zirak; D. Gudavičius; G. Martynaitis; D. Petrulionis; D. Samsonas; L. Kontenis; A. Zumbusch
• Keywords: info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/540; microscopy ; Raman spectroscopy ; electrooptical devices ; Raman scattering; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

We report an experimental scheme for stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy with excitation in the visible spectral region. This allows electronically preresonant (epr) SRS microscopy of a broad range of chromophores with sensitivities as low as 1 μM. Our experiment is based on two synchronously near-infrared pumped optical parametric oscillators (OPO). One of the outputs is modulated at a fourth of the repetition rate with a novel broadband electro-optical modulator. Using a combination of spectral focusing and tuning of the OPO, we show the recording of epr-SRS spectra over the whole range of molecular vibrations at a speed up to 20 times faster than classical wavelength tuning. The imaging capabilities of this setup are demonstrated with material scientific and cellular samples.