Fourier-domain low-coherence interferometry for light-scattering spectroscopy
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026

A Multimodal Wide-Field Fourier-Transform Raman Microscope
Published on: December 30, 2025
Adam Wax1, Changhuei Yang, Joseph A Izatt
1Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Fitzpatrick Center for Photonics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA. a.wax@duke.edu
Abstract:
We present a novel method for obtaining depth-resolved spectra for determining scatterer size through elastic-scattering properties. Depth resolution is achieved with a white-light source in a Michelson interferometer with the mixed signal and reference fields dispersed by a spectrograph. The spectrum is Fourier transformed to yield the axial spatial cross correlation between the signal and reference fields with near 1-microm depth resolution. Spectral information is obtained by windowing to yield the scattering amplitude as a function of wave number. The technique is demonstrated by determination of the size of polystyrene microspheres in a subsurface layer with subwavelength accuracy. Application of the technique to probing the size of cell nuclei in living epithelial tissues is discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Interference and Diffraction
Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy: Overview
Different compounds display unique properties due to their...
Applications of IR Spectroscopy: Overview
IR Spectrometers
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Interference
Spectral interference occurs when signals from other elements or molecules overlap with the analyte signal, falsely elevating or masking the analyte's absorbance. This interference can be corrected using Zeeman,...
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Interference

