Scan-free optical correlation techniques: history and applications to optical coherence tomography

Abstract

In parallel with progress in generating ultrafast pulse sources and characterization techniques, optical time correlation techniques have seen tremendous development over many years and paved the way for novel applications in non-destructive and high resolution 'optical coherence tomography' (OCT) imaging. Amongst the known correlation techniques, the scan-free approach presents the advantage of single shot detection and real-time acquisition for pulse measurements, but this is not generally considered and applied for OCT imaging. The aim of this paper is to review the scan-free correlation method, analyze its performance and extended features and discuss its application to OCT.

Dual-fibre stretcher and coma as tools for independent 2nd and 3rd order tunable dispersion compensation in a fibre-based ‘scan-free’ time domain optical coherence tomography system

“…Nevertheless, authors have recently shown high speed imaging capability together with relatively good sensitivity in in-vivo biological media [24,25]. • Specific properties of these systems, such as dispersion compensation, optical processing of Wigner functions, potentially depth dependant dispersion compensation and artefact-free optically processed time domain imaging, are highly attractive and unique features [12]. Such systems may also become a standard for functional imaging in some media where real-time access to functional information is more important than the sensitivity (i.e.…”

“…Such techniques originate from spectroscopy [10] and are widely used in ultra-short pulse shape measurement [11]. The application of scan-free time domain correlators to imaging has been the subject of numerous works, with each time different improvements and modalities; to have a complete overview of the actual state of the art the reader may refer to the review paper by Froehly and Leitgeb [12]. Scan free systems are inherently fast, but with a sensitivity almost 20 dB lower than that of FDOCT [13,14].…”

Key Developments for Partial Coherence Biometry and Optical Coherence Tomography in the Human Eye Made in Vienna

“…65,66 Central to the technique is the recording of the spectral interference pattern as a function of optical frequency with a spectrometer. First application to biological tissue (corneal thickness measurement) was presented by Fercher et al in 1995, 67 calling it spectral interferometry (Fig.…”

Investigation of the internal structure of hemp fibres using optical coherence tomography and Focused Ion Beam transverse cutting

“…As compared to FDOCT the Ascan is directly registered (and hence displayed) in the time domain whereas in FDOCT the acquisition is realized in the spectral domain. Several systems are possible using different possible configurations and interesting properties have been demonstrated for spectroscopic purpose and for dispersion compensation [36][37][38][39][40]. The system used in this…”

“…The reader may refer to reference [36][37][38][39][40] for a complete overview of such systems. The image acquisition is done with NI Labview Software.…”