Abstract
Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) enables label-free imaging by probing the vibrational responses of molecules. SRS offers high specificity and sensitivity; however, its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is constrained by photodamage to the sample. To address this limitation, high-power, quantum-enhanced SRS microscopes have recently been developed and applied to both polymers and biological samples. Using squeezed light for illumination, these microscopes suppress noise below the shot noise level, improving the SNR without increasing the illumination intensity. In this work, we highlight the advantages of using squeezed light over other sources of quantum correlations when operating at the high optical powers required for precision microscopy limited by photodamage. We then present the latest developments a photodamage-evading quantum microscope where both the quality of the quantum probe and the classical SNR are improved on compared to the previous single-beam SRS imaging experiments. These improvements led to a fast, multispectral quantum imaging system with noise levels below the shot noise limit of state-of-the-art classical SRS microscopes.
Oral presentation.