Nonresonant background suppression for coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy using a multi-wavelength time-lens source.

We demonstrate a robust, all-fiber, two-wavelength time-lens source for background-free coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering imaging. The time-lens source generates two picosecond pulse trains simultaneously: one at 1064 nm and the other tunable between 1040 nm and 1075 nm (~400 mW for each wavelength). When synchronized to a mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser, the two wavelengths are used to obtain on- and off-resonance coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering images. Real-time subtraction of the nonresonant background in the coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering image is achieved by the synchronization of the pixel clock and the time-lens source. Background-free coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering imaging of sebaceous glands in ex vivo mouse tissue is demonstrated.