Rapid scanning all-reflective optical delay line for real-time optical coherence tomography

We describe a dispersion-free high-speed scanning optical delay line that is suitable for real-time optical coherence tomography, in particular, when an ultrabroadband light source is used. The delay line is based on all-reflective optics consisting of two flat and one curved mirrors. We achieve optical path-length scanning by oscillating one of the two flat mirrors with a resonant galvanometer. The delay line is compact and easy to implement. A total scanning depth of 1.50 mm with an 89% duty ratio, a maximal scanning speed of approximately 9.1 m/s, and a 4.1-kHz repetition rate has been demonstrated.     

High-speed phase- and group-delay scanning with a grating-based phase control delay line

A rapid-scanning optical delay line that employs phase control has several advantages, including high speed, high duty cycle, phase- and group-delay independence, and group-velocity dispersion compensation, over existing optical delay methods for interferometric optical ranging applications. We discuss the grating-based phase-control delay line and its applications to interferometric optical ranging and measurement techniques such as optical coherence domain reflectometry and optical coherence tomography. The system performs optical ranging over an axial range of 3 mm with a scanning rate of 6m/s and a repetition rate of 2 kHz. The device is especially well suited for applications such as optical coherence tomography that require high-speed, repetitive, linear delay line scanning with a high duty cycle.     

Double-reflection polygon mirror for high-speed optical coherence microscopy

We report on a high-speed, high-efficiency, high-duty-cycle, path-length-maintaining and linear beam scanner suitable for en face scanning optical coherence microscopy. Fast transverse beam scanning is achieved by use of a double-reflection polygon mirror (DRPM) rotating at a constant speed. With a motor speed of 18,000 rpm and a scanner diameter of 50 mm, the DRPM provides a line rate up to 3 kHz, +/-1.8 degrees scanning range, and 90% duty cycle. A much higher scanning speed and much larger scanning range can be readily achieved by increasing the scanner diameter.     

Two-dimensional scanning probe driven by a solenoid-based single actuator for optical coherence tomography

We propose the two-dimensional scanning probe operating with a single actuator, which is thought useful as a sample probe for optical coherence tomography (OCT). The probe was designed to use a single-body lensed fiber cantilever loaded with an iron-bead and driven by a single-solenoid actuator. Elliptic spiral trace patterns were achieved using off-axis magnetic fields of the solenoid. A three-dimensional OCT image was obtained for a scanning area of 3.8 mm × 3.4 mm at an acquisition speed of 16.7 s/V. Up to 27 Hz B-scan rate, the proposed probe worked well, and 1000 A-scans were made per each B-scan.     

Artifact removal in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography with a piezoelectric fiber stretcher

We describe an artifact removal setup swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) system that enables high-speed full-range imaging. We implement a piezoelectric fiber stretcher to generate a periodic phase shift between successive A-scans, thus introducing a transverse modulation. The depth ambiguity is then resolved by performing a Fourier filtering in the transverse direction before processing the data in the axial direction. The dc artifact is also removed. The key factor is that the piezoelectric fiber stretcher can be used to generate discrete phase shifts with a high repetition rate. The proposed experimental setup is a much improved version of the previously reported B-M mode scanning for spectral-domain OCT in that it does not generate additional artifacts. It is a simple and low-cost solution for artifact removal that can easily be applied.     

High performance wavelength-swept laser with mode-locking technique for optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate a Fourier-domain mode-locked wavelength-swept laser that uses a polygon-based narrowband optical scanning filter and a high-efficiency semiconductor optical amplifier. Peak and average output powers of 98 mW and 71 mW have been achieved, respectively, without an external amplifier, while the wavelength was swept continuously from 1247 nm to 1360 nm. A unidirectional wavelength sweeping rate of 7452 nm/ms (65.95 kHz repetition rate) was achieved by using a 72 facet polygon scanner with a rotation rate of 916 revolutions per second. The instantaneous linewidth of this laser is 0.09 nm, which corresponds to a coherence length of 16 mm. This laser is most suitable for optical coherence tomography applications.     

超快太赫兹时域光谱系统

超快太赫兹时域光谱系统是基于高速异步光学采样原理进行工作的,该系统使用2个重复频率可在1 GHz附近变化的飞秒振荡器,并使用高带宽反馈电路控制其重复频率。2个飞秒振荡器的重复频率存在Δf的失谐,一个飞秒振荡器的重复频率是1 GHz+Δf Hz,为泵浦脉冲;另一个飞秒振荡器的重复频率是1 GHz,为探测脉冲,由此提供泵浦脉冲和探针脉冲的时间差,时间延迟呈周期性变化,其扫描周期可以由1/Δf给出。此系统摒弃了传统THz-TDS系统所必需的机械延迟线,采用双光子探测器来产生触发信号。当设定Δf=1 kHz时,1 ms就可以探测出1个THz谱, 用时10.3 s即可得到动态范围为21 dB、频谱分辨率为5 GHz的太赫兹信号。该系统具有检测速度快和频谱分辨率高的优点,在需要快速测量的应用环境中有着传统太赫兹时域光谱系统不可比拟的优势。     

变光外差为电外差的双频激光探测

演示一种双频激光位移探测系统,阐述光载波激光雷达的概念。由单块非平面环形腔固体激光器和声光调制器产生100MHz载波频率的双频激光束,作为探测光束,经过光路收发系统,探测位于电动导轨上目标的位移变化,信号处理部分采用高速光电探测器响应后信号的电子外差解调方式,位移量的获得通过高频锁相放大器解算参考光束与信号光束的相位差并计算获得。通过双频激光把光学外差探测变为了电子外差探测,系统重复误差小于3%。系统在利用无线电雷达信号处理方式的同时,保留了激光探测的优点,位移测量系统具有良好的重复性。     

Numerical study of wavelength-swept semiconductor ring lasers: the role of refractive-index nonlinearities in semiconductor optical amplifiers and implications for biomedical imaging applications

Recent results have demonstrated unprecedented wavelength-tuning speed and repetition rate performance of semiconductor ring lasers incorporating scanning filters. However, several unique operational characteristics of these lasers have not been adequately explained, and the lack of an accurate model has hindered optimization. We numerically investigated the characteristics of these sources, using a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) traveling-wave Langevin model, and found good agreement with experimental measurements. In particular, we explored the role of the SOA refractive-index nonlinearities in determining the intracavity frequency-shift-broadening and the emitted power dependence on scan speed and direction. Our model predicts both continuous-wave and pulse operation and shows a universal relationship between the output power of lasers that have different cavity lengths and the filter peak frequency shift per round trip, therefore revealing the advantage of short cavities for high-speed biomedical imaging.     

Spectral interferometric optical coherence tomography with nonlinear beta-barium borate time gating

A high-speed, all optical coherence tomography system was designed and constructed. This tomography system employs spectral interferometry and optical Fourier transformation to reduce the number of mechanical scanning dimensions required for multidimensional profilometry. The system also employs a time gate comprising a beta -barium borate crystal driven by a femtosecond laser pulse to improve measurement time. This system has 43-mum depth resolution and 150-fs temporal resolution and is capable of taking 1000 cross-sectional image frames per second.     

Fourier domain optical coherence tomography using optical demultiplexers imaging at 60,000,000 lines/s

We describe high-speed Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) using optical demultiplexers (ODs) for spectral dispersion. The OD enables separation of a narrow spectral band of 14 GHz (0.11 nm) from a broadband incident light at 256 different frequencies in 25.0 GHz intervals centered at 192.2 THz (1559.8 nm). OCT imaging of 60,000,000 axial scans per second was achieved through parallel signal acquisition using 256 balanced photoreceivers to simultaneously detect all the output signals from the ODs in a Fourier domain OCT system. OCT imaging at a 16 kHz frame rate, 1100 A-lines per frame, 3 mm depth range, and 23 microm resolution was demonstrated using a resonant scanner for lateral scanning.     

一种双光梳多外差大尺寸高精度绝对测距新方法的理论分析

本文提出了一种双光梳多外差大尺寸高精度绝对测距的新方法, 结合基于双光梳互相关的多外差距离测量和基于重复频率的梳间拍频距离测量, 在不需要依靠脉冲飞行时间先验判断以及扫描重复频率或扫描参考光路的前提下实现km量程高精度绝对测距. 文章在光梳基本原理和测距方案的基础上, 建立了基于双光梳的大尺寸距离测量链理论模型, 讨论了多外差最低谱线和光梳重复频率稳定度对测量结果的影响, 并进行了大量仿真计算; 仿真结果表明, 在理想相位解调精度的前提下, 该方法的测距误差优于± 50 pm, 且多外差最低谱线的频率偏差对测距造成的影响远低于多外差测量的测距分辨力, 验证了该方法能够用于开展大尺寸高精度绝对测距研究. 关键词： 激光测距 飞秒光梳 重复频率 多外差干涉     

高速线性光采样用被动锁模光纤激光器重复频率优化

线性光采样是一种测量基于先进调制码型的高速光信号的有效手段, 而被动锁模光纤激光器是其实施所需的关键组件. 本文在介绍线性光采样工作原理的基础上, 首次分析得到被动锁模光纤激光器重复频率与待测信号光线宽的约束关系, 对于正交相移键控(QPSK)信号, 当信号光线宽与采样光脉冲重复频率的比值小于1.5×10^-3 时, 高速信号的相位噪声对线性光采样带来的损伤可以忽略不计. 利用95.984 MHz重复频率的被动锁模光纤激光器对线宽为100 kHz速率为28 Gbaud的QPSK信号开展相关实验, 通过标准数字相干接收算法可以得到与传统高速示波器相同的星座图, 理论分析与实验结果完全符合. 这一研究结果有助于线性光采样用被动锁模光纤激光器的优化设计.     

Real-time, ultrahigh-resolution, optical coherence tomography with an all-fiber, femtosecond fiber laser continuum at 1.5 microm

Real-time, ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) is demonstrated in the 1.4-1.7-microm wavelength region with a stretched-pulse, passively mode-locked, Er-doped fiber laser and highly nonlinear fiber. The fiber laser generates 100-mW, linearly chirped pulses at a 51-MHz repetition rate. The pulses are compressed and then coupled into a normally dispersive highly nonlinear fiber to generate a low-noise supercontinuum with a 180-nm FWHM bandwidth and 38 mW of output power. This light source is stable, compact, and broadband, permitting high-speed, real-time, high-resolution OCT imaging. In vivo high-speed OCT imaging of human skin with approximately 5.5-microm resolution and 99-dB sensitivity is demonstrated.     

Rapid and scalable scans at 21 m/s in optical low-coherence reflectometry

An optical low-coherence reflectometer is presented that uses a fiber Michelson interferometer with a rotating cube to generate rapid depth scans at a high repetition rate. A folded optical path geometry allows the reference arm to scale up the scan range, scan speed, and scan repetitiveness. Thickness measurements with a repetitiveness of 384 Hz and a longitudinal scanning speed of 21 m/s in air over a range of ~3 mm are demonstrated.     

Simultaneous intensity, birefringence, and flow measurements with high-speed fiber-based optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate that tissue structure, birefringence, and blood flow can be imaged simultaneously by use of techniques of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography and phase-resolved optical Doppler tomography. An efficient data-acquisition procedure is implemented that optimizes the concurrent processing and display of all three image types. Images of in vivo human skin acquired with a high-speed fiber-based system are presented.     

重复频率可调谐的超低抖动光窄脉冲源的研究

提出了一种新型的基于光电振荡器的重复频率可调谐的超低抖动光窄脉冲源. 光电振荡器系统可以产生超低相位噪声的微波信号; 被该信号调制的直调光经过两次相位调制之后, 使光脉冲的啁啾增强; 再通过一段色散补偿光纤, 光脉冲被进一步压窄. 实验中使用YIG可调滤波器, 可以得到8–12 GHz内步进为200 MHz的可调谐微波信号, 因此光脉冲的重复频率具有可调谐性. 当微波信号即脉冲重复频率为9.6 GHz时, 测得脉冲宽度为3.7 ps, 相位噪声为-130.1 dBc/Hz@10 kHz. 由此得出光脉冲的瞬时抖动为60.1 fs (100 Hz–1 MHz), 因此该方案产生的光窄脉冲源具有超低的抖动.     

基于绝热孤子压缩效应的小基座孤子脉冲研究

高重复频率超短光脉冲产生技术是高速光时分复用(OTDM)系统的关键技术之一,而一般的超短脉冲源直接产生的脉冲往往不够窄,因此必须对光脉冲进行压缩后才能满足高速光通信系统的要求。采用360 m长的色散渐减光纤(DDF),成功将从再生锁模光纤激光器(RMLFL)输出的中心波长1546 nm、重复频率10 GHz、脉宽分别为5.40 ps和4.60 ps的光脉冲,绝热压缩为脉宽为1.93 ps和1.71 ps的小基座孤子脉冲,压缩因子分别为2.80和2.69。利用这种绝热孤子压缩方法得到的光脉冲质量较好,可以用于160 Gb/s的光时分复用系统。     

Phase-resolved optical coherence tomography and optical Doppler tomography for imaging blood flow in human skin with fast scanning speed and high velocity sensitivity

We have developed a novel phase-resolved optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical Doppler tomography (ODT) system that uses phase information derived from a Hilbert transformation to image blood flow in human skin with fast scanning speed and high velocity sensitivity. Using the phase change between sequential scans to construct flow-velocity imaging, this technique decouples spatial resolution and velocity sensitivity in flow images and increases imaging speed by more than 2 orders of magnitude without compromising spatial resolution or velocity sensitivity. The minimum flow velocity that can be detected with an axial-line scanning speed of 400 Hz and an average phase change over eight sequential scans is as low as 10 microm/s, while a spatial resolution of 10 microm is maintained. Using this technique, we present what are to our knowledge the first phase-resolved OCT/ODT images of blood flow in human skin.     

Real-time phase-resolved functional optical coherence tomography by use of optical Hilbert transformation

We have developed a novel real-time phase-resolved functional optical coherence tomography system that uses optical Hilbert transformation. When we use a resonant scanner in the reference arm of the interferometer, with an axial scanning speed of 4 kHz, the frame rate of both structural and Doppler blood-flow imaging with a size of 100 by 100 pixels is 10 Hz. The system has high sensitivity and a larger dynamic range for measuring the Doppler frequency shift that is due to moving red blood cells. Real-time images of in vivo blood flow in human skin obtained with this interferometer are presented.