Multiple scattering in optical coherence microscopy

Abstract

We show that the multiple-scatter rejection provided by optical coherence microscopy (low-coherence interferometry) can be incomplete in optically turbid media and that multiple scattering manifests itself in two distinct ways. Multiple small-angle scattering results in an effective probe field that is stronger than expected from a first-order beam extinction model, but that contains a distorted wave front that enhances the apparent reflectance of small structures relative to those that are larger than the unscattered incident beam. Multiple wide-angle scattering produces a broad diffuse haze that reduces the contrast of subsequent features.

Inverse scattering problem for optical coherence tomography

“…This noise level is much larger than in the various noise bars reported in the literature. 8 The center wavelength and bandwidth of the laser were taken to be l 850 nm and Dl 70 nm, respectively. The N.A.…”

Path-length-resolved dynamic light scattering: modeling the transition from single to diffusive scattering

“…5,6 The regime between these two extremes, when light has been scattered only a few times, is not well understood. Improving the understanding of the detection of low-order scattered light not only would aid in photon-correlation experiments such as those performed with DLS and DWS but also is relevant for confocal microscopy 7 and optical coherence tomography, 8 in which contrast and image quality are known to be degraded by multiple scattering.…”

Optical coherence computed tomography

“…In a highly scattering medium, the image quality degrades quickly after light penetrates several hundreds of micrometer because of multiple scattering. 8 The multiple-scattered light can interfere with the reference light just like the single-scattered light. 9 It is also difficult to extract absorption information from OCT. Spectral information has previously been exploited to solve this problem at the cost of spatial resolution.…”

“…Recently, with the advancement in time-resolved optical image techniques, researchers have started to develop various numerical solutions for solving the full transient RTE based on the discrete transfer method, the discrete ordinates method, and finite volume method. 8 However, further studies are needed to clarify their applications in the content of biomedical optical imaging, especially for the quasidiffusive regime. Their accuracy need to be tested against the Monte Carlo method, a well-accepted golden standard.…”