Imaging of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography using a superluminescent diode based on InAs quantum dots emitting broadband spectrum with Gaussian-like shape

Abstract

We developed a low-coherence light source based on self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) with controlled emission wavelengths and applied it to optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. A current-driven superluminescent diode (SLD) light source including four layers of QDs exhibits a broadband (80-nm-bandwidth) emission centered at approximately 1.2 µm with a Gaussian-like spectral shape at room temperature. Spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) using the QD-SLD as a light source was developed and imaging with the SD-OCT was demonstrated. The axial resolution was estimated to be approximately 8 µm in air and no apparent side lobes appeared beside the point spread function, indicating the effectiveness of the QD-SLD for high-resolution, noise-reduced OCT imaging.