Dual-band infrared optical coherence tomography using a single supercontinuum source.

Area of Science:

• Optical Engineering
• Biomedical Imaging
• Materials Science

Background:

• Advancements in infrared (IR) supercontinuum sources enable new imaging techniques.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a well-established imaging modality.
• Supercontinuum sources offer novel alternatives for IR OCT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate a cost-efficient dual-band Fourier-domain IR OCT system.
• To evaluate the performance and maturity of the proposed OCT setup.
• To explore applications in art diagnosis and industrial ceramics.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a single supercontinuum source and a pyroelectric linear array.
• Implemented adapted signal acquisition and post-processing for thermal detectors in interferometers.
• Operated the OCT system at 2 µm and 4 µm central wavelengths.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated the efficiency of dual-band detection.
• Presented practical results and direct comparisons of the 2 µm and 4 µm OCT sub-bands.
• Showcased high-resolution measurements for art diagnosis (painting mock-ups) and industrial ceramics.

Conclusions:

• The developed dual-band IR OCT system is a cost-efficient and mature technology.
• The 2 µm OCT sub-system provides an affordable solution for art diagnosis.
• Dual-band detection shows significant potential for inspecting lithography-based manufactured industrial ceramics.