Ultrahigh-speed optical frequency domain imaging and application to laser ablation monitoring

Abstract

We demonstrate a linear laser resonator incorporating a semiconductor optical amplifier and scanning filter for high repetition rate, broad wavelength, unidirectional scanning. The laser operates at up to 115kHz repetition rates and demonstrates a tuning-speed-independent power of >30mW. We apply this laser to enable ultrahigh-speed optical frequency domain imaging of the dynamics of laser ablation of biological tissue. The imaging system acquires single longitudinal scans (A-lines) in 8.7μs and complete cross-sectional images comprising 575A-lines at a rate of 200 frames per second.