Supercontinuum generation system for optical coherence tomography based on tapered photonic crystal fibre

Abstract

We report smooth and broad continuum generation using a compact femtosecond Ti:Sapphire laser as a pump source and a tapered photonic crystal fibre as a nonlinear element. Spectral output is optimized for use in optical coherence tomography, providing a maximum longitudinal resolution of 1.5 microm in free space at 809 nm centre wavelength without use of additional spectral filtering.