Morphology-dependent stimulated Raman scattering imaging. I. Theoretical aspects

Morphology-dependent stimulated Raman scattering is a nonlinear laser Raman spectroscopy that relies on using the cavity modes associated with micron-sized structures to enhance optical signal generation. Since different cavity modes occupy different regions in space, location-specific spectra can be generated. Here we outline the physics behind morphology-dependent stimulated Raman scattering imaging and model the signal generation process. The results show that a simple tailoring of the illumination conditions allows signal from single, but selectable, cavity modes to be generated. Thus, this nonlinear Raman technique can be used to image spatial variations in chemical composition and/or molecular structure within microstructures.