NRC — Advanced, non-linear optical imaging and microscopy (CARSLab)

For companies and research-driven organizations working with complex materials, seeing what’s happening at the molecular level can be the difference between trial-and-error and confident decision-making. The NRC’s Advanced, non-linear optical imaging and microscopy (CARSLab) offering gives Canadian businesses and researchers access to highly specialized imaging capabilities that are rarely available outside of major research institutions.

Delivered by the National Research Council Canada and available to clients nationwide, CARSLab operates as a fee-for-service facility equipped with advanced techniques such as two-photon fluorescence, second harmonic generation, and ultra-short pulse CARS microscopy. These tools allow users to visualize the chemical makeup and structure of materials in real time, without altering samples through dyes or stains. This makes the service particularly valuable for applications involving live cells, tissues, chemical mixtures, geological samples, or energy-related materials, where accuracy and sample integrity matter. The technology offers extremely high sensitivity and resolution, enabling insights that traditional microscopy methods often can’t provide.

Beyond the equipment itself, businesses benefit from working directly with NRC experts who manage the facility and support projects across a wide range of industries and use cases. For organizations exploring advanced imaging without building in-house capacity, CARSLab can be a powerful way to accelerate research and product development, and learning more about how access works can help determine if it fits your next project.