Detection of Bacillus subtilis spores in water by means of broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy.

Broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) spectroscopy is used for detection of bacterial spores in aqueous solution. Polarization CARS spectroscopy is employed to suppress the non-resonant background. CARS spectrum recorded in the spectral region from 700 to 1900 cm(-1) exhibits all the characteristic features of spontaneous Raman spectrum taken for a solid powder and resembles that one of the dipicolinic acid, which is considered to be the major component of bacterial spores, including anthrax.