High resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography using a thermal light source

A high resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system based on a thermal light source was presented. A novel normalized method was introduced to remove the background noise and the DC noise of the interference spectrum. A Gaussian spectral calibration procedure was performed to improve axial resolution and image quality before reconstructing OCT image. With the proposed method, the quality of the obtained images was greatly improved. Two-dimensional (2D) cross-sectional images with axial resolution of 1.2?μm were obtained. Furthermore, the film thickness of single-layer film sample was obtained. The experimental result demonstrates the SD-OCT system has potential for film thickness measurement and surface topography.     

Spectral Filtering in OCT System Implemented by Mechanically Induced Long-Period Fiber Grating

A spectral filtering method that can enhance the axial resolution and suppress sidelobes of the point spread function in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) system is demonstrated. A mechanically induced long-period fiber grating (MLPG) is used to tailor the spectral shape of a homemade Er-doped fiber amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) source. By using a MLPG, the high and narrow characteristic peak, centered at 1533 nm, of the ASE source was fairly well removed, which enabled us to use a broader spectral bandwidth of the source. The experimental results show that the proposed spectral filtering method can suppress the sidelobes in the axial point spread function up to 5.4 dB and thus enhance the axial resolution of an OCT system by four times. The OCT images of an extracted human premolar taken with and without the spectral filtering are presented and compared with each other.     

Spectral domain optical coherence tomography imaging with an integrated optics spectrometer

We designed and fabricated an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) in silicon oxynitride as a spectrometer for spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The AWG has a footprint of only 3.0 cm × 2.5 cm, operates at a center wavelength of 1300 nm, and has 78 nm free spectral range. OCT measurements are performed that demonstrate imaging up to a maximum depth of 1 mm with an axial resolution of 19 μm, both in agreement with the AWG design parameters. Using the AWG spectrometer combined with a fiber-based SD-OCT system, we demonstrate cross-sectional OCT imaging of a multilayered scattering phantom.     

Optical system design of the Dyson imaging spectrometer based on the Fery prism

Imaging spectrometer has obtained wide development since rich feature information can be obtained by it; now, we focus on its high spectral resolution and miniaturization. In this paper, we design the Dyson imaging spectrometer system based on Fery prism. The average spectral resolution is 4.3 nm and the structure of the total length is 229 mm. It is a small, high-spectrometer imaging system. The front and rear surface of the traditional prism are plane, but the surfaces of the Fery prism are spherical, which can provide some optical power to realize imaging function and produce the dispersion effect. The Fery prism does not need to be placed in the parallel optical path, which simplifies the collimator lens and the imaging lens and are necessary in the prism spectrometer, making it possible to obtain a compact spectrometer. Full-spectrum transmittance of the prism is up to 94 %. Compared to the convex grating, the energy efficiency is greatly improved, and the free spectral range is wider, and its dispersion will not bring higher-order spectral aliasing problem. The small high spectrometer only includes two components. Its spectral range is from 400 to 1000 nm, covering the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared. The various aberrations of the typical spectrum are corrected. The spectrometer is excellent in performance.     

Resolution Improvement in Optical Coherence Tomography with Segmented Spectrum Management

We demonstrate resolution improvement in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system with multiple scans of segmented spectral bands and software signal processing. With an effective spectral full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 45 nm, centered at 950 nm, we compress the interference fringe FWHM from 31 μm down to 7 μm, which is smaller than the theoretical limit of 8.9 μm if a Gaussian spectral shape is assumed, through the combined effect of dispersion compensation and spectral shaping. With the amplitude adjustments of the OCT images of the segmented spectral bands, side-lobes can be significantly suppressed with a slight increase of the fringe envelope FWHM. With other amplitude adjustments, the envelope FWHM can be reduced to 5.6 μm at the expense of significant side-lobes.     

Full range spectral domain optical coherence tomography using a fiber-optic probe as a self-phase shifter

We present a full range handheld probe type spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) method. Here, the sample arm is composed of a tilted fiber-optic cantilever scanner; thus, the phase shift concurrently occurs while sample scanning. With the phase shift, we could achieve a full range complex-conjugate-free OCT image with no additional phase shifters in the reference arm. To realize this technique, a magnetically actuated probe was adopted. Full range SD-OCT images of a pearl, human fingernail, and human tooth were subsequently obtained using this suggested probe. The scanning range and acquisition speed were 3?mm and 20 frames/s?, respectively.     

In vivo human retinal imaging by ultrahigh-speed spectral domain optical coherence tomography

An ultrahigh-speed spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) system is presented that achieves acquisition rates of 29,300 depth profiles/s. The sensitivity of SD-OCT and time domain OCT (TD-OCT) are experimentally compared, demonstrating a 21.7-dB improvement of SD-OCT over TD-OCT. In vivo images of the human retina are presented, demonstrating the ability to acquire high-quality structural images with an axial resolution of 6 microm at ultrahigh speed and with an ocular exposure level of less than 600 microW.     

Optical coherence tomography using broad-bandwidth XUV and soft X-ray radiation

We present a novel approach to extend optical coherence tomography (OCT) to the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and soft X-ray (SXR) spectral range. With a simple setup based on Fourier-domain OCT and adapted for the application of XUV and SXR broadband radiation, cross-sectional images of semiconductors and organic samples becomes feasible with current synchrotron or laser-plasma sources. For this purpose, broadband XUV radiation is focused onto the sample surface, and the reflected spectrum is recorded by an XUV spectrometer. The proposed method has the particular advantage that the axial spatial resolution only depends on the spectral bandwidth. As a consequence, the theoretical resolution limit of XUV coherence tomography (XCT) is in the order of nanometers, e.g., 3 nm for wavelengths in the water window (280–530 eV). We proved the concept of XCT by calculating the reflectivity of one-dimensional silicon and boron carbide samples containing buried layers and found the expected properties with respect to resolution and penetration depth confirmed.     

Optimum spectral window for imaging of art with optical coherence tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been shown to have potential for important applications in the field of art conservation and archaeology due to its ability to image subsurface microstructures non-invasively. However, its depth of penetration in painted objects is limited due to the strong scattering properties of artists’ paints. VIS–NIR (400–2,400 nm) reflectance spectra of a wide variety of paints made with historic artists’ pigments have been measured. The best spectral window with which to use OCT for the imaging of subsurface structure of paintings was found to be around 2.2 μm. The same spectral window would also be most suitable for direct infrared imaging of preparatory sketches under the paint layers. The reflectance spectra from a large sample of chemically verified pigments provide information on the spectral transparency of historic artists’ pigments/paints as well as a reference set of spectra for pigment identification. The results of the paper suggest that broadband sources at ~2 μm are highly desirable for OCT applications in art and potentially material science in general.     

基于受激辐射信号的谱域光学相干层析分子成像方法

鉴于不同生理病理状态下组织复折射率实部的变化不大,传统光学相干层析(OCT)成像技术在分子特异性识别上存在先天不足.为此,本文提出了基于受激辐射信号的OCT成像方法,可在实现传统散射成像的同时,实现基于受激辐射信号的分子成像.在超高分辨率谱域OCT系统的基础上,通过增设光谱分光与调制抽运光支路,建立了基于单宽谱光源的抽运探测谱域OCT系统,详细推导了调制抽运下受激辐射信号的获取与成像公式.利用搭建的抽运探测谱域OCT系统,实现了瞬态受激辐射信号的相干探测.基于同时获取的受激辐射OCT信号和传统OCT信号,成功重构了氮化物粉末构建样品的基于受激辐射信号的分子对比OCT图像.     

宽光谱棱镜型太阳光谱仪设计

为实现大气层外太阳光谱辐照度(SSI)变化的长期例行监测,设计了一种星载宽光谱太阳光谱仪结构。全系统仅使用单片折反式曲面棱镜实现太阳光谱250～2500 nm的分光,并通过棱镜转动实现谱平面上多探测器的同步扫描探测;同时基于Huygens子波点扩展函数（PSF）仿真了光谱仪的光谱响应函数（SRF）和光谱分辨率。分光棱镜在±2.5°扫描转角内的全谱段子午像差小于8μm;光谱分辨率在紫外谱段(250～400 nm)为0.7～3.5 nm,可见/近红外谱段(400～1000 nm)为3.5～35.0 nm,短波红外谱段(1000～2500 nm)内为28.5～41.2 nm。整个系统结构简单紧凑,性能稳定可靠,分光和像差校正能力满足大气层外太阳光谱辐照度长期监测需求。     

Compressed sensing with linear-in-wavenumber sampling in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

We propose a novel method called compressed sensing with linear-in-wavenumber sampling (k-linear CS) to retrieve an image for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). An array of points that is evenly spaced in wavenumber domain is sampled from an original interferogram by a preset k-linear mask. Then the compressed sensing based on l1 norm minimization is applied on these points to reconstruct an A-scan data. To get an OCT image, this method uses less than 20% of the total data as required in the typical process and gets rid of the spectral calibration with numerical interpolation in traditional CS-OCT. Therefore k-linear CS is favorable for high speed imaging. It is demonstrated that the k-linear CS has the same axial resolution performance with ～30 dB higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as compared with the numerical interpolation. Imaging of bio-tissue by SD-OCT with k-linear CS is also demonstrated.     

Differential phase contrast in optical coherence tomography

We report on a modification of optical coherence tomography (OCT) that allows one to measure small phase differences between beams traversing adjacent areas of a specimen. The sample beam of a polarization-sensitive low-coherence interferometer is split by a Wollaston prism into two components that traverse the object along closely spaced paths. After reflection at the various sample surfaces, the beams are recombined at the Wollaston prism. Any phase difference encountered between the two beams is converted into a change of polarization state of the recombined beam. This change is measured, and the resulting signals are converted to differential phase-contrast OCT images. The first images obtained from simple test objects allowed us to determine path-difference gradients with a resolution of the order of 5 x 10(-5) .     

Optical Coherence Tomography Implemented by Photonic Crystal Fiber

We report a photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, in which conventional single-mode fiber for the transmission line and the fiber coupler for the beam splitter/combiner are replaced with PCF and PCF coupler. The PCF coupler fabricated using the fused biconical tapered (FBT) method showed a nearly flat coupling ratio over a broad spectral bandwidth of 400 nm, which provided an axial resolution of 3-μm for OCT imaging. With a white-light source, the 8-μm thick air gap between two stacked cover glasses was measured, and with a conventional superluminecent diode (SLD) source, the in vitro images of rat eye and Misgurnus mizolepis skin were successfully obtained. The PCF and PCF coupler might enable a white-light as the source for the cost effective and high-resolution OCT system.     

Measurements of X-ray absorption spectra by the prism spectroscopy method

X-ray absorption spectra of a number of samples were measured in the range 5–30 keV by the prism spectrophotometry method. The spectral decomposition was performed using an optically polished diamond prism with an opening angle of 90°. The absorption spectra of liquid bromonaphthalene are presented as an example. An energy resolution of 100–130 eV was achieved in the energy range of ～10 keV, providing the unambiguous identification of elements by jumps in the K photoabsorption.     

Optimization of a distributed feedback dye laser system to generate single tunable picosecond pulses from UV to IR

We report a new configuration of a picosecond distributed feedback dye laser system, which can be pumped by various wavelengths. The optical characteristics of the system are presented. By using a triangle mirror functioned beam splitter and a right-angle prism attached to the front face of the cell in the pumping geometry, continuously and widely tunable laser wavelengths have been obtained for a range of more than 100 nm. A quenching mirror adhered to a face on the side of the cell, functioning as a high-Q cavity shared common gain medium, has been employed to observe single short laser pulses with transform-limited bandwidth.     

Broadband difference frequency mixing between visible and near-infrared pulses for few-cycle pulse generation with stable carrier-envelope phase

Difference frequency generation between broadband visible noncollinear optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) pulses and the fundamental pump laser pulses allows the generation of ultrashort infrared pulses with passively stabilized carrier-envelope phase. A simple prism compressor for the visible NOPA pulses is sufficient to generate few-cycle pulses in the infrared and no additional compression is needed. We theoretically investigate the concept, explain the principles, and demonstrate it for high repetition rate, long pulse durations, and various wavelengths by applying it to a Ti:sapphire and an Yb:KYW-based laser systems. For the latter sub-15 fs phase stable pulses around 1.8 μm with an energy of 100 nJ are obtained at 100 kHz repetition rate.     

Prism-based Spectral Imaging of Four Species of Single-molecule Fluorophores by Using One Excitation Laser

A prism-based imaging system for simultaneously detecting four species of single-molecule (SM) fluorophores was developed. As for the detection method, four spectrally distinct species of BigDye fluorophores were bound to 50-nm-diameter gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to form AuNP/BigDye complexes. Four species of complexes were randomly immobilized on different fused-silica slides. BigDyes were excited by an argon-ion-laser (excitation wavelengths: 488 and 514.5 nm) beam through total internal reflection on the slide surface. SM fluorescence emitted from a complex was spectrally dispersed through a prism to form an SM spot elongated in the spectral direction on a charge-coupled device. A scattered light spot generated by the AuNP of the same complex under 594-nm laser illumination was used as a wavelength reference, and the SM fluorescence spectrum was obtained from the pixel-intensity pattern of the elongated SM spot. Peak locations of fluorescence spectra of all the observed SM spots were obtained, and their histograms were distinctly separated according to species. SM spots can thus be classified as one of four species according to their peak locations. By statistically analyzing the histograms, the classification accuracy was estimated to be above 93.8 %. The number of pixels in the spectral direction required for classifying four species of SM fluorophores was estimated to be 10. As for the conventional system (which uses two excitation lasers), 15 pixels are required. Using BigDyes as the four fluorophores (which consist of donors linked to acceptors and can be excited by just an argon-ion laser) is the reason that such a small number of pixels was achieved. The developed system can thus detect 1.5 times more SM fluorophores per field of view; that is, its throughput is 1.5 times higher. The approach taken in this study, namely, using BigDye with a prism-type system, is effective for increasing the throughput of DNA microarray-chip analysis and SM real-time DNA sequencing.     

Validation of Photodynamic Action via Photobleaching of a New Curcumin-Based Composite with Enhanced Water Solubility

Motivated by the photochemical and photophysical properties of curcumin-based composites, the characteristics of a new curcumin-based water-soluble salt were investigated via absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Photobleaching was investigated using a set of LEDs in three different wavelengths (405 nm, 450 nm and 470 nm) to illuminate an aqueous solution of curcumin, evaluating its degradation for five different exposure times (0, 5, 15, 45 and 105 minutes). The results were compared with equivalent measurements of dark degradation and illumination in the presence of a singlet-oxygen quencher. Three solution concentrations (50, 100 and 150 μg/ml) were studied. To measure the fluorescence, it was used low power 405 nm excitation laser source. Time dependent photodegradation of curcumin was observed, as compared to the natural degradation of samples maintained on a dark environment. Two main absorption peaks were detected and their relation responded to both concentration and wavelength of the illumination source. A spectral correlation between absorption of curcumin and the emission bands of the sources showed an optimal spectral overlap for the 450 nm LED. For this source, photobleaching showed a less intense degradation on the presence of singlet oxygen quencher. This last result confirmed singlet oxygen production in vitro, indicating a strong potential of this composite to be used as a blue-light-activated photosensitizer.     

A comparison of DIC and grid measurements for processing spalling tests with the VFM and an 80-kpixel ultra-high speed camera

During the last decades, the spalling technique has been more and more used to characterize the tensile strength of geomaterials at high-strain-rates. In 2012, a new processing technique was proposed by Pierron and Forquin [1] to measure the stress level and apparent Young’s modulus in a concrete sample by means of an ultra-high speed camera, a grid bonded onto the sample and the Virtual Fields Method. However the possible benefit to use the DIC (Digital Image Correlation) technique instead of the grid method has not been investigated. In the present work, spalling experiments were performed on two aluminum alloy samples with HPV1 (Shimadzu) ultra-high speed camera providing 1?Mfps maximum recording frequency and about 80?kpixel spatial resolution. A grid with 1?mm pitch was bonded onto the first sample whereas a speckle pattern was covering the second sample for DIC measurements. Both methods were evaluated in terms of displacement and acceleration measurements by comparing the experimental data to laser interferometer measurements. In addition, the stress and strain levels in a given cross-section were compared to the experimental data provided by a strain gage glued on each sample. The measurements allow discussing the benefit of each (grid and DIC) technique to obtain the stress-strain relationship in the case of using an 80-kpixel ultra-high speed camera.