Low-noise, vibrational phase-sensitive chemical imaging by balanced detection RIKE

We perform a back-to-back comparison between two nonlinear vibrational imaging techniques: stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and balanced detection Raman-induced Kerr effect (BD-RIKE). Using a compact fiber-based laser system for generation of pump and Stokes signals, we image polymer beads as well as human hepatocytes under the same experimental conditions. We show that BD-RIKE, despite the slightly lower signal levels, consistently offers an improved signal-to-noise ratio with respect to SRS, resulting in significantly higher image quality. Importantly, we observe that such quality is not affected by the static birefringence of the sample, which makes BD-RIKE a robust and attractive alternative to SRS. We also highlight a unique advantage of the technique, which is its capability to easily access both the real and imaginary parts of the nonlinear susceptibility, thus allowing for vibrational phase imaging. The phase information can be readily obtained from BD-RIKE with minimal experimental effort and provides an additional chemical selectivity channel for coherent Raman microscopy. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.