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.