Center for Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics

124th Summer Symposium of KCS-Physical Chemistry Division

We recently have developed a label-free coherent vibrational imaging technique, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, which obtains chemical-specific information of samples as the label-free imaging manner. The imaging contrast of the SRS microscopy originates from molecular vibrational frequencies intrinsic to chemical compounds without the need for staining or fluorescent labeling. Vibrational microscopies based on infrared absorption and spontaneous Raman processes are limited low spatial resolution or slow imaging speed. However, in SRS process, the stimulated Raman signal is enhanced by the seven orders of the spontaneous Raman amplitude by virtue of the stimulated excitation of molecular vibrational transitions, allowing for fast imaging acquisition.

References

[1] Min, W.; Freudiger, C. W.; Lu, S.; Xie, X. S.; Coherent nonlinear optical imaging: beyond fluorescence microscopy. Annu. Rev. Phys. Chem. 2011. 62, 507-530.

[2] Cheng, J.; Xie, X. S.; Vibrational spectroscopic imaging of living systems: an emerging platform for biology and medicine. Science, 2015, 27, aaa8870