Coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy is one of the most effective tools for biomolecular imaging, which finds more and more biomedical applications. In the case of broadband CARS, where a super-continuum beam from a femtosecond laser is used as pump wave, there are two approaches, developed for reliable analysis of biomolecular information. In the frequency-domain approach, the detection channel is usually terminated by a spectrometer and multichannel photodetectors, such as CCD cameras, for detecting the CARS spectrum. In a time‐domain CARS approach, also known as Fourier‐transform CARS (FT‐CARS), the CARS signal is detected by a fast single-channel photodetector and, after obtaining the CARS signal versus time delay response, a Fourier transform is used to obtain the resonance spacing in the frequency domain. For both cases, the experimental setup involves expensive and complicated components, such as femtosecond or picosecond laser systems.

The authors of this Optics Letters publication have made an extremely simple FT-CARS system with a spectral focusing technique based on an all-fiber single-cavity free-running dual-comb laser. This system has passed approbation by measurements of CARS spectra of different materials - polystyrene, olive oil, polyethylene, and PMMA. Hopefuly this design will initiate manufacturing of inexpensive and reliable CARS imaging micro-spectrometers for ongoing bioimaging research.

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