Background suppression in coherent Raman spectroscopy

Background signals which appear in Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy and in the Raman-induced Kerr effect can be eliminated using polarization technqiues based upon four-wave mixing. Specific polarization conditions will suppress all signals with the exception of those arising from Raman modes. The interference between resonant and background contributions is eliminated, and undistorted line shapes are obtained.