Ultrabroadband multiplex Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) microspectroscopy using a CCD camera with an InGaAs image intensifier

We developed a new microspectroscopic system based on the ultrabroadband multiplex coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) process using a CCD camera with an InGaAs image intensifier. Owing to the gated amplification of the CARS signal by the InGaAs Image intensifier, the CARS signal was detected with less than 10 laser shots. As a proof-of-principle study, we applied our system to visualizing the heterogeneous structure of a blended polymer consisting of cellulose acetate and cellulose tris(phenylcarbamate). The clear vibrational contrast was observed under weak excitation conditions.