Ex-CARS: exotic configuration for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microspectroscopy utilizing two laser sources.

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a new coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering setting, which relies on a coherent excitation of Raman vibration using a broadband ultrashort laser pulse and signal read-out using a conventional continuous wave laser radiation. Such an exotic arrangement does not require any synchronization of two laser sources and can be used for direct comparison of amplitudes of nonlinear and spontaneous Raman signals.