Ultra-broadband spatiotemporal sweeping device for high-speed optical imaging

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Biomedical Imaging
• Materials Science

Background:

• Traditional optical diagnostic methods often face limitations in speed and spectral range.
• Achieving ultra-fast optical diagnoses across a wide spectrum requires innovative technological solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and demonstrate a novel spatiotemporal sweeping fiber bundle for ultra-fast optical diagnoses.
• To achieve ultra-broadband operation and high-speed data acquisition for optical diagnostic applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of an all-optical spatiotemporal sweeping fiber bundle by precisely controlling fiber length increments.
• Implementation of a 200-ps pixel delay increment for a pixel readout rate of up to 5 GHz.
• Demonstration of both 1D and 2D spatiotemporal sweeping configurations.

Main Results:

• Achieved ultra-fast optical microscopy at 710 nm, 1030 nm, and 1600 nm.
• Demonstrated tens of MHz line-scan rates and few-micrometer resolution across the tested wavelengths.
• Validated the high peak power of short pulses for sensitive optical detection.

Conclusions:

• The developed spatiotemporal sweeping fiber bundle offers an inertia-free solution for ultra-fast optical diagnosis.
• The device's ultra-broad bandwidth, GHz pixel readout rate, and high sensitivity are promising for advanced diagnostics, especially with hyperspectral imaging needs.