Maximum entropy and time-domain Kramers-Kronig phase retrieval approaches are functionally equivalent for CARS microspectroscopy

Phase retrieval methods are used to recover Raman spectra from multiplex and broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy signals. Two methods are in widespread use, one based on maximum entropy, and one based on a modified time-domain KramersKronig method. Here we compare these methods with respect to their ability to faithfully and robustly recover Raman spectra from coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy spectra simulated to reproduce a range of scenarios expected for experimental data and their efficiency. We find that the time-domain KramersKronig and maximum entropy approaches perform in functionally equivalent ways, having only minor differences between them. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.