Homodyne en face optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate, for what we believe to be the first time, the use of a 3 x 3 fiber-optic coupler to realize a homodyne optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for en face imaging of highly scattering tissues and turbid media. The homodyne OCT setup exploits the inherent phase shifts between different output ports of a 3 x 3 fiber-optic coupler to extract amplitude information of a sample. Our homodyne en face OCT system features a measured resolution of 14 microm axially and 9.4 microm laterally with a 90 dB signal-to-noise ratio at 10 micros integration time. En face OCT imaging of a stage 52 Xenopus laevis was successfully demonstrated at a depth of 600 microm within the sample.     

Optimal interferometer designs for optical coherence tomography

We introduce a family of power-conserving fiber-optic interferometer designs for low-coherence reflectometry that use optical circulators, unbalanced couplers, and (or) balanced heterodyne detection. Simple design equations for optimization of the signal-to-noise ratio of the interferometers are expressed in terms of relevant signal and noise sources and measurable system parameters. We use the equations to evaluate the expected performance of the new configurations compared with that of the standard Michelson interferometer that is commonly used in optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. The analysis indicates that improved sensitivity is expected for all the new interferometer designs, compared with the sensitivity of the standard OCT interferometer, under high-speed imaging conditions.     

Detection Schemes for Optical-Coherence-Domain Imaging of Biological Tissues

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a novel imaging modality based on low-coherence interferometry. This paper summarizes some of our latest work on the development of OCT where we have taken two approaches. In the first approach we have developed a phase-drift-suppression method for stable heterodyne detection in the presence of phase fluctuations. In the second approach we have concentrated on the development of two-dimensional heterodyne detection techniques for real-time imaging. A novel detection scheme has been proposed, which enables parallel heterodyne detection with a commercially available imager such as a charge-coupled-device camera. Meanwhile, a non-scanning OCT system configuration based on off-axis interferometry is being studied. Using a newly developed angular-dispersion imaging scheme, we show that the axial reflectance profile in OCT measurement can be detected instantaneously with a sensor array.     

In vivo bidirectional color Doppler flow imaging of picoliter blood volumes using optical coherence tomography

We describe a novel optical system for bidirectional color Doppler imaging of flow in biological tissues with micrometer-scale resolution and demonstrate its use for in vivo imaging of blood flow in an animal model. Our technique, color Doppler optical coherence tomography (CDOCT), performs spatially localized optical Doppler velocimetry by use of scanning low-coherence interferometry. CDOCT is an extension of optical coherence tomography (OCT), employing coherent signal-acquisition electronics and joint time-frequency analysis algorithms to perform flow imaging simultaneous with conventional OCT imaging. Cross-sectional maps of blood flow velocity with <50-microm spatial resolution and <0.6-mm/s velocity precision were obtained through intact skin in living hamster subdermal tissue. This technology has several potential medical applications.     

Heterodyne measurement of Wigner distributions for classical optical fields

We demonstrate a two-window heterodyne method for measuring the x-p cross correlation, ??(*)(x)? (p)?, of an optical field ? for transverse position x and transverse momentum p. This scheme permits independent control of the x and p resolution. A simple linear transform of the x-p correlation function yields the Wigner phase-space distribution. This technique is useful for both coherent and low-coherence light sources and may permit new biological imaging techniques based on transverse coherence measurement with time gating. We point out an interesting analogy between x-p correlation measurements for classical-wave and quantum fields.     

Influence of Phase Drift on Optical Coherence Tomography Using a CCD Camera-Based Heterodyne Detection Technique

The performance of a two-dimensional heterodyne detection technique in optical coherence tomography (OCT) was studied. This technique, which is based on the frequency synchronous detection method, enables the use of an imager such as a charge coupled device (CCD) camera as a heterodyne sensor array, so that horizontal cross-sectional image can be acquired in real time without lateral scanning. OCT measurements of scattering media including a biological object were demonstrated. To evaluate the influence of phase fluctuations on the present technique, we measured and analyzed the statistical relative-standard-deviation of heterodyne signal intensity as a function of the random phase shifts between two consecutive CCD frames. Practical limitations in the signal stability and possible solutions are discussed.     

Excess-noise suppression in a fibre-optic balanced heterodyne detection system

We have investigated balanced heterodyne detection in applications where laser intensity fluctuations are the dominant noise source, as, for example, in laser Doppler velocimetry with a He-Ne laser. The suppression of excess noise in comparison with a single receiver detection system is analysed theoretically. In our heterodyne experiment we have compared two different fibre-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometers, both with single-mode polarization-preserving fibres, one in integrated form using a directional coupler, the other one with a dielectric beam-splitter as the optical mixing element. With the former we have verified the theoretical results; with the latter we have demonstrated that with a good balance the fundamental short noise detection limit can be reached.     

2pi ambiguity-free optical distance measurement with subnanometer precision with a novel phase-crossing low-coherence interferometer

We report a highly accurate phase-based technique for measuring arbitrarily long optical distance with subnanometer precision. The method employs a Michelson interferometer with a pair of harmonically related light sources, one cw and the other low coherence. By slightly detuning (~2 nm) the center wavelength of the low-coherence source between scans of the target sample, we can use the phase relationship between the heterodyne signals of the cw and the low-coherence light to measure the separation between reflecting interfaces with subnanometer precision. As this technique is completely free of 2pi ambiguity, an issue that plagues most phase-based techniques, it can be used to measure arbitrarily long optical distances without loss of precision. We demonstrate one application of this technique, the high-precision determination of the differential refractive index.     

Ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography using continuum generation in an air-silica microstructure optical fiber

We demonstrate ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) using continuum generation in an air-silica microstructure fiber as a low-coherence light source. A broadband OCT system was developed and imaging was performed with a bandwidth of 370 nm at a 1.3-mu;m center wavelength. Longitudinal resolutions of 2.5 microm in air and ~2 microm in tissue were achieved. Ultrahigh-resolution imaging in biological tissue in vivo was demonstrated.     

Frequency structure in an electronically tuned Ti:sapphire laser: periodic appearance of static fringes in both homodyne and heterodyne Michelson interferometers

Static interference fringes were observed repeatedly with changes of path difference in both homodyne and heterodyne Michelson interferometers. This unique coherence property of an electronically tuned Ti:sapphire laser with an intracavity acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) has revealed the frequency structure and dynamics of the laser field. The fact that static interference occurred in a heterodyne interferometer with unequal path lengths indicates backscattering of the intracavity laser field, suggesting that Brillouin-enhanced four-wave mixing occurs in the intracavity AOTF.     

超外差干涉绝对距离测量研究综述

近几年来，基于多波长干涉理论的绝对距离测量技术取得了很大的进展。其中，超外差绝对距离干涉测量可以克服光学元件引起的模耦合误差，这是普通的外差干涉测量所不能避免的。超外差测量还能够实现合成波长相位的实时检测。本文简要介绍了多波长干涉测量（也叫小数重合法）的基本原理，论述和分析了超外差干涉测量的原理，指出了超外差测量的优点。最后，对超外差测量的方案进行了综述，并指出了它们在实际测量中的特点。     

Phase retrieval in low-coherence interferometric microscopy

We present compensating methods that address inherent errors in quantitative phase reporting for low-coherence interferometric techniques. A brief theoretical treatment of the problem and experimental validation using spectral domain phase microscopy demonstrate mitigation of the degrading effects of phase leakage on accurate measurement of optical path length in the vicinity of closely spaced reflectors. This result has direct implications for phase-sensitive interferometry techniques, such as Doppler imaging, as well as amplitude-based quantitative reporting. Corrected phase retrieval is demonstrated for conversion of interferometric phase to optical path length in cell surface deflections of beating cardiomyocytes.     

Path-length distribution and path-length-resolved Doppler measurements of multiply scattered photons by use of low-coherence interferometry

We report first results of measurements by low-coherence Doppler interferometry of the path-length distribution of photons undergoing multiple scattering in a highly turbid medium. We use a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with multimode graded-index fibers and a superluminescent diode as the light source. The path-length distribution is obtained by recording of the heterodyne fluctuations that arise from the Brownian motion of particles in an Intralipid suspension as a function of the optical path length. The experimental path-length distribution is in good agreement with predictions of Monte Carlo simulations. In the heterodyne spectrum, an increase of the mean Doppler frequency with path length is observed.     

Optical phase-space distributions for low-coherence light

Using a novel heterodyne technique, we measure optical phase-space distributions in momentum and position for low-coherence light. Quantitative information is obtained simultaneously about the longitudinal and the transverse coherence properties as well as the wave-front curvature of the light field. This method can be used to monitor these optical parameters directly for signal fields scattered from samples of interest, for tomographic imaging.     

Nonlinear dynamic filtering of logarithmically amplified fringe signals in optical coherence tomography applied to paper measurements

Application of the nonlinear Kalman filtering method to logarithmically amplified low-coherence fringe signals measured from paper samples is considered. Experimental results of dynamic fringe envelope recovery in optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are presented. The analog fringe envelope and digital dynamic fringe envelope recoveries from noisy signals are compared. The results show that the nonlinear discrete Kalman filtering method can be applied to estimate envelopes of logarithmically transformed low-coherence fringe signals with high noise immunity. Logarithmic amplification reduces quantization error in dealing with small signal values. The experimental results obtained demonstrate the possibility of purely digital signal processing in OCT. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Heterodyne interferometric polarization coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (HIP‐CARS) spectroscopy

We demonstrate a new technique that combines polarization sensitivity of the coherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) response with heterodyne amplification for background‐free detection of CARS signals. In this heterodyne interferometric polarization CARS (HIP‐CARS), the major drawbacks of polarization and heterodyne CARS are rectified. Using a home‐built picosecond optical parametric oscillator, we are able to address vibrational stretches between 600 and 1650 cm⁻¹ and record continuous high‐resolution Raman equivalent HIP‐CARS spectra. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dual femtosecond laser multiheterodyne optical coherence tomography

A time domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) system without moving parts is described, which is based on multiheterodyning utilizing two mode-locked femtosecond lasers. By synchronizing the two lasers to slightly different repetition rates and coupling to an interferometric OCT setup, we obtain amplitude-modulated beat signals representing the structure of the specimen under investigation. Our system is suitable for biological imaging as well as technical applications. We demonstrate high axial imaging depths of 150 mm with up to 5000 axial scans per second, achieving equivalent path scanning velocities of 750 m/s.     

Phase-referenced Doppler optical coherence tomography in scattering media

We present a fiber-based, low-coherence interferometer that significantly reduces phase noise by incorporating a second, narrowband, continuous-wave light source as a phase reference. By incorporating this interferometer into a Doppler OCT system, we demonstrate significant velocity noise reduction in reflective and scattering samples using processing techniques amenable to real-time implementation. We also demonstrate 90% suppression of velocity noise in a flow phantom.     

Electro-optical microscopy: mapping nonlinear polymer films with micrometric resolution

The first demonstration, to the best of our knowledge, of electro-optical microscopy is presented and applied to a polymer-based optical device. A confocal transmission microscope with interferometric homodyne detection is implemented to measure Pockels phase shifts with micrometric spatial resolution and an accuracy level down to 4 x 10(-7) rad. This technique is applied to poled polymer films in which noncentrosymmetric molecular orientation is preliminarily achieved in the sample plane between transverse planar electrodes. The electro-optic mapping of this structure exhibits nonuniform and asymmetric patterns of the nonlinear response that are characteristic of the poling spatial inhomogeneity as confirmed by second-harmonic generation microscopy.     

Polarization-resolved second-harmonic-generation optical coherence tomography in collagen

We describe a novel imaging technique, second-harmonic-generation optical coherence tomography (SHOCT). This technique combines the spatial resolution and depth penetration of optical coherence tomography (OCT) with the molecular sensitivity of second-harmonic-generation spectroscopy. As a consequence of the coherent detection required for OCT, polarization-resolved images arise naturally. We demonstrate this new technique on a skin sample from the belly of Icelandic salmon, acquiring polarization-resolved SHOCT and OCT images simultaneously.