Advanced Optical Coherence Tomography techniques: novel and fast imaging tools for non-destructive testing

We demonstrate that Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a method which was originally developed for depth-resolved imaging of biologic al tissue, is suited to adequately respond to different problems posed in the field of contact less material characterisation and non-destructive testing and evaluation. In detail, the pote ntial of advanced OCT techniques like ultrahigh-resolution OCT, polarisation-sensitive OC T or spectral-domain OCT is evaluated and exemplified for the imaging and characteris ation of different polymer and ceramic materials, as well as of whole components, l ike polymer coated medical metal stents.