Calibration-free time-stretch optical coherence tomography with large imaging depth

Abstract

We demonstrate a calibration-free time-stretch optical coherence tomography (TS-OCT), based on an optical higher order dispersion compensation scheme, which substitutes the digital calibration with optical dispersion compensation. As a result, the acquired raw data can directly perform the Fourier transform, and data processing time is greatly reduced by 82%, compared with the digital calibration. Moreover, because of the high-sensitivity and calibration-free characteristics, the high-order dispersion compensation-based TS-OCT can increase sensitivity roll-off by 2.6 times to 6.91 mm/dB and effective imaging depth by 14.2% to 16 mm. The in vivo biological tissue imaging has been demonstrated, with the single-shot A-scan rate approaching 19 MHz. This higher order dispersion compensation scheme could provide a promising solution for the TS-OCT system to realize 3D imaging in real time and enhanced imaging quality.