Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering: from proof-of-the-principle experiments to femtosecond CARS and higher order wave-mixing generalizations

A review of CARS evolution from proof-of-the principle experiments to recen t CARS developments, including femtosecond CARS and higher order wave-mixin g spectroscopy generalizations, is given, with the main emphasis placed on the discussion of physically new ideas and promising directions of CARS stu dies. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.