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Rapid scanning all-reflective optical delay line for real-time optical coherence tomography
Xiumei Liu1, Michael J Cobb, Xingde Li
1Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
Optics Letters
|January 15, 2004
Summary
We developed a new optical delay line for high-speed real-time optical coherence tomography. This dispersion-free system uses simple all-reflective optics for fast and efficient scanning.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Biomedical Imaging
Background:
- Real-time optical coherence tomography (OCT) demands high-speed, dispersion-free optical delay lines.
- Existing delay lines may introduce dispersion or lack the speed required for ultrabroadband light sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel dispersion-free, high-speed scanning optical delay line.
- To demonstrate its suitability for real-time OCT, especially with ultrabroadband light sources.
Main Methods:
- The delay line employs all-reflective optics, including two flat mirrors and one curved mirror.
- Optical path-length scanning is achieved by oscillating a flat mirror using a resonant galvanometer.
- The design is compact and straightforward to implement.
Main Results:
- A total scanning depth of 1.50 mm was achieved.
- An 89% duty ratio and a maximal scanning speed of approximately 9.1 m/s were demonstrated.
- A high repetition rate of 4.1 kHz was attained.
Conclusions:
- The developed optical delay line is effective for high-speed, dispersion-free scanning.
- Its performance is well-suited for real-time OCT applications utilizing ultrabroadband light sources.
- The compact and simple design facilitates practical implementation.