Enhancing resolution of stimulated Raman scattering microscopy

As a powerful tool of biological imaging, stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy enables rapid, label-free imaging with high molecular specificity. In the application of SRS microscopy, it is essential to break the optical diffraction limit and enhance the resolution. Here, we demonstrate an effective method that combines antiphase demodulation with a deconvolution algorithm to achieve super-resolution SRS imaging. By introducing a donut-shaped pump beam with antiphase modulation in SRS microscopy, the signal around the focal center is effectively suppressed, enabling subdiffraction-limited imaging. Followed by a deconvolution algorithm, we obtain a 3.5-fold improvement in spatial resolution using human hair as a test specimen. The result offers a practical method for super-resolution SRS microscopy without significant sample damage, broadening applications in super-resolution, label-free biological imaging.