Intensity-interferometric spectral-domain optical coherence tomography with dispersion cancellation

Area of Science:

• Optical Physics
• Biomedical Imaging
• Metrology

Background:

• Group-velocity dispersion (GVD) in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) limits imaging depth and resolution.
• Existing dispersion compensation methods can be complex or require specialized equipment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel technique for GVD cancellation in SD-OCT.
• To enhance image resolution and enable scanless imaging capabilities.
• To utilize classical intensity correlations as a basis for dispersion compensation.

Main Methods:

• A Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer was integrated with a standard SD-OCT setup.
• Correlations between spectral intensities from different spectral components were calculated.
• A computational procedure was applied to the intensity correlations for dispersion cancellation.

Main Results:

• The proposed method theoretically demonstrates effective cancellation of GVD in SD-OCT.
• A factor-of-√2 resolution enhancement was achieved alongside dispersion compensation.
• The technique was shown to be compatible with common light sources and did not require ultrafast detectors.

Conclusions:

• Classical intensity correlations offer a viable approach for GVD compensation in SD-OCT.
• The method provides a simple and effective way to improve SD-OCT performance.
• This technique opens possibilities for advanced, yet accessible, optical coherence tomography systems.