Experimental demonstration of full-field quantum optical coherence tomography

Abstract

We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first implementation of full-field quantum optical coherence tomography (FF-QOCT). In our system, we are able to obtain full three-dimensional (3D) information about the internal structure of a sample under study by relying on transversely resolved Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) interferometry with the help of an intensified CCD (ICCD) camera. Our system requires a single axial scan, obtaining full-field transverse single-photon intensity in coincidence with the detection of the sibling photon for each value of the signal-idler temporal delay. We believe that this capability constitutes a significant step forward toward the implementation of QOCT as a practical biomedical imaging technique.