Researcher's Profile

Development and application of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy: We proposed and demonstrated SRS microscopy that detects the molecular vibration of biological samples with high sensitivity using two-color laser pulses. Furthermore, to enhance the molecular specificity of SRS microscopy, we developed an SRS imaging system that uses a proprietary high-speed wavelength-tunable laser to obtain SRS images at various molecular vibration frequencies, and are conducting various biological imaging experiments. We are also working on analyzing the complex structure, dynamics, and interactions inside biological samples using Raman probes for metabolic imaging and super-multiplex imaging (Figure 1).

Development and application of large-scale SRS imaging: We have developed an ultra-high-speed wavelength-switchable light source to realize SRS measurements of a large number of cells, and demonstrated multi-color SRS imaging of cells in high-speed flow (Figure 2). This technology makes it possible to visualize biological molecules contained in each of the more than 10,000 cells. We demonstrated the imaging of the nutrients contained in microscopic algae as well as blood cells and cancer cells.

Quantum-enhanced SRS microscopy: We are introducing quantum optics to enhance the sensitivity of SRS microscopy (Figure 3). The signal-to-noise ratio of conventional SRS microscopy is limited by the quantum fluctuations of light. To reduce this fluctuation, we utilize squeezed light to increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the SRS signal.

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• Principle of SRS microscopy and its applications