It is a form of Raman spectroscopy enabling the intensity of Raman transitions to be increased. In this technique two laser beams with different frequencies pass through a sample producing electromagnetic radiation of several frequencies.

It is possible to adjust the frequency of lasers so that one of the frequencies corresponds to that of a stokes line from the sample and the coherent emission has the frequency of the anti-stokes line with a high intensity.

CARS enables Raman spectra to be obtained even in the presence of other radiation. One application of CARS is to obtain Raman spectra from bodies in flames.