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 language | English |
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Title of host publication | Optical Coherence Tomography and Coherence Techniques V |
Volume | 8091 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2011 |
Event | Optical Coherence Tomography and Coherence Techniques V - Munich, Germany Duration: 24 May 2011 → 26 May 2011 |
Conference
Conference | Optical Coherence Tomography and Coherence Techniques V |
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Country/Territory | Germany |
City | Munich |
Period | 24/05/11 → 26/05/11 |
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