Artefact-removal algorithms for Fourier domain quantum optical coherence tomography

Area of Science:

• Quantum optics
• Biomedical imaging
• Signal processing

Background:

• Quantum Optical Coherence Tomography (Q-OCT) offers enhanced axial resolution and dispersion immunity compared to traditional OCT.
• A significant drawback of Q-OCT is the presence of artifacts that obscure structural information, particularly in multilayered samples.
• Existing artifact removal methods are effective for Time-domain Q-OCT but not for Fourier-domain Q-OCT (Fd-Q-OCT).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present novel algorithms for artifact removal in Fd-Q-OCT.
• To process the joint spectrum data from Fd-Q-OCT to generate artifact-free A-scans.
• To address the lack of artifact removal schemes for Fd-Q-OCT.

Main Methods:

• Development of two distinct algorithms designed to process Fd-Q-OCT joint spectrum data.
• Theoretical analysis of the proposed algorithms' underlying principles.
• Validation of algorithm performance using computer-generated datasets.

Main Results:

• Successful generation of artifact-free A-scans from Fd-Q-OCT joint spectrum data using the proposed algorithms.
• Demonstration of the algorithms' capability to overcome the artifact issue in Fd-Q-OCT.
• Analysis of algorithm performance and limitations based on simulated data.

Conclusions:

• The proposed algorithms effectively remove artifacts in Fd-Q-OCT, enabling clearer structural imaging.
• These methods provide a significant advancement for Fd-Q-OCT, enhancing its practical applicability.
• Further discussion addresses the limitations of these algorithms in relation to experimental systems and sample characteristics.