Evaluation of a swept-laser optical coherence tomography light source based on a novel quantum-dot based semiconductor optical amplifier

Nik Krstajic, David Childs, Negin Peyvast, Deepa Kasaragod, Stephen J. Matcher, Igor Krestnikov, Richard Hogg

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    Abstract

    We describe a simple swept-laser design that characterizes the emission bandwidth, linewidth, spectral shape and output noise. A short cavity Littmann configuration is used in which the semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) lasing wavelength is tuned by a galvanometer with an 830 grooves per mm diffraction grating. A 3dB coupler extracts light from the cavity formed by the grating and end-mirror and the optical output uses to illuminate a balanced swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) interferometer incorporating a circulator, 3dB coupler, dispersion compensator and balanced detector. The SOA (SOA-1200-70-PM-20sB, Innolume GmbH) uses a novel III-V semiconductor quantum-dot gain medium. ASE is emitted between 1150nm and 1300nm at a drive current of 700mA. When used in the Littmann cavity laser a coherence length of about 10mm is produced, which is tunable over 60nm. The peak output power is 12mW. The swept-laser has been incorporated into a fiber-based SS-OCT system and used to image biological tissues. Axial resolution in air is 12 microns. Images of human palmar skin in-vivo are demonstrated, showing good resolution and contrast, with the stratum corneum, epidermis, rete ridges and epidermal-dermal junction visualized.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationOptical Coherence Tomography and Coherence Techniques V
    Volume8091
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2011
    EventOptical Coherence Tomography and Coherence Techniques V - Munich, Germany
    Duration: 24 May 201126 May 2011

    Conference

    ConferenceOptical Coherence Tomography and Coherence Techniques V
    Country/TerritoryGermany
    CityMunich
    Period24/05/1126/05/11

    Keywords

    • OCT
    • quantum dot
    • skin
    • SOA
    • swept-laser

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
    • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
    • Biomaterials
    • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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