DIFCARS: A versatile model of CARS signal generation Original Research Article

A versatile model of coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) signal generation is presented. The model combines the novel treatment of CARS signal generation given by Teets with the realistic electric field distributions produced by the model of focused laser beams given by Evans and Grey-Morgan. The model provides a detailed picture of local contributions to the total CARS signal, including interference effects, as well as the total CARS power and the CARS spectrum. Illustrative applications of the model are given for each of the common CARS phase-matching configurations, collinear CARS, USED CARS and folded BOXCARS. A particular feature of the model is that the input data derives from readily accessible features of the pump and Stokes input beams arriving at the focusing lens and of the lens itself.