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Rapid polymer blend imaging with quantitative broadband multiplex CARS microscopy
Author(s) -
von Vacano Bernhard,
Meyer Lars,
Motzkus Marcus
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of raman spectroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.748
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1097-4555
pISSN - 0377-0486
DOI - 10.1002/jrs.1704
Subject(s) - supercontinuum , microscopy , multiplex , characterization (materials science) , materials science , raman spectroscopy , broadband , raman scattering , polymer , microscope , optics , optical microscope , nanotechnology , fiber , scanning electron microscope , photonic crystal fiber , composite material , physics , bioinformatics , biology
Broadband multiplex coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (MCARS) microscopy allows the rapid chemical mapping and molecular imaging of untreated material samples with three‐dimensional sectioning capabilities. It can be realized with a single laser in a simple and robust setup using supercontinuum generation in a microstructured fiber. The successful implementation of a MCARS microscope is discussed in detail, its parameters are characterized, and applications are shown for the identification and mapping of polymer blends. An evolutionary fitting routine is presented, which allows a fully quantitative analysis of the MCARS information resulting in high‐contrast chemical maps. The established setup enables reliable day‐to‐day operation as a valuable tool for rapid material characterization. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.