Novel near-IR broad-band light sources for optical coherence tomography based on superluminescent diodes

Abstract

Two novel high-brightness broadband light sources based on quantum-well superluminescent diodes for optical coherence tomography and other applications with record CW output power and spectral bandwidth are described.

Novel superluminescent diodes and SLD-based light sources for optical coherence tomography

“…The development of SLDs covering the spectral band of 1000-1100 nm described above made it possible to broaden the family of combined light sources in which the superposition of the emission of two or more SLDs is used [7]. Main characteristics of novel prototypes D-980 (two SLDs) and Q-940 (four SLDs) are presented in Table. Table.3.…”

Broadband high-brightness light sources based on semiconductor optical amplifier and superluminescent diode

“…Such couplers are widely available for spectral range 1300 -1600 nm, but for NIR range below 1000 nm that are exotic and expensive elements. In this issue is described SLD-based light source 11 with record spectral parameters: linewidth -more than 200 nm, coherence length -less than 4.0 µm, central wavelength -870 nm. This device contains 4 different SLDs whose emission is combined using 3 broad-band SM fiber Y-couplers (Fig.5a).…”