Background-free stimulated Raman spectroscopy and microscopy.

We propose a three-color, double-modulation scheme for the background-free detection of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). We call the scheme stimulated Raman gain and opposite loss detection (SRGOLD). It exploits the symmetric nature of potential parasitic signals (cross phase modulation, two-photon absorption, and thermal effects) to the end of suppressing them. Conversely, the antisymmetric nature of SRS provides for a twofold increase in the magnitude of the SRS signal. We experimentally demonstrate SRGOLD spectroscopy and microscopy on test samples as well as on mice skin samples.