Birefringence measurement in polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography using differential-envelope detection method.

In this research, we integrated two demodulating logarithmic amplifiers with one differential amplifier for use in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer so as to obtain a two-channel polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system. Birefringence signals can be acquired using this system along with a differential-envelope detection method. Because the two orthogonal polarizations are common-path propagation, common noise originating from background fluctuations or multiple scattering in turbid media can be reduced to improve the detection sensitivity and accuracy of birefringence measurement. Besides, this simple and effective technique is an analog detection method and is capable of providing high temporal response; it can also help obtain a high time-bandwidth product as compared to the conventional method of using a numerical method with a limited sampling rate. The feasibility of the proposed system is supported by theory and is also shown by performing experiments involving a human vessel, which is a highly scattering medium with weak birefringence.

[1]  J. Fujimoto,et al.  Polarization-sensitive low-coherence reflectometer for birefringence characterization and ranging , 1992 .

[2]  A. Fercher,et al.  Measurement and imaging of birefringence and optic axis orientation by phase resolved polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography. , 2001, Optics express.

[3]  C. Hitzenberger,et al.  High speed spectral domain polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography of the human retina. , 2005, Optics express.

[4]  Thomas E. Milner,et al.  Precise beat length measurement of birefringent fibres with dual channel low-coherence reflectometer , 2001 .

[5]  J G Fujimoto,et al.  Correlation of collagen organization with polarization sensitive imaging of in vitro cartilage: implications for osteoarthritis. , 2001, The Journal of rheumatology.

[6]  T. Yatagai,et al.  Birefringence imaging of human skin by polarization-sensitive spectral interferometric optical coherence tomography. , 2002, Optics letters.

[7]  Lihong V. Wang,et al.  Jones-matrix imaging of biological tissues with quadruple-channel optical coherence tomography. , 2002, Journal of biomedical optics.

[8]  Barry Cense,et al.  In vivo birefringence and thickness measurements of the human retinal nerve fiber layer using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. , 2004, Journal of biomedical optics.

[9]  J. Fujimoto,et al.  High-speed phase- and group-delay scanning with a grating-based phase control delay line. , 1997, Optics letters.

[10]  J. Nelson,et al.  In vivo burn depth determination by high-speed fiber-based polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography. , 2001, Journal of biomedical optics.

[11]  M. V. van Gemert,et al.  Two-dimensional birefringence imaging in biological tissue using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography , 1997, European Conference on Biomedical Optics.

[12]  B E Bouma,et al.  High-speed polarization sensitive optical frequency domain imaging with frequency multiplexing. , 2008, Optics express.

[13]  T. Milner,et al.  Polarization-maintaining fiber-based optical low-coherence reflectometer for characterization and ranging of birefringence. , 2003, Optics letters.

[14]  Bin Liu,et al.  Theoretical and practical considerations on detection performance of time domain, Fourier domain, and swept source optical coherence tomography. , 2007, Journal of biomedical optics.

[15]  Simon Haykin,et al.  Communication Systems , 1978 .

[16]  B. Colston,et al.  Birefringence characterization of biological tissue by use of optical coherence tomography. , 1998, Optics letters.

[17]  J. Izatt,et al.  Simplified method for polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. , 2001, Optics letters.

[18]  A. Fercher,et al.  Polarization–Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography of Dental Structures , 1999, Caries Research.

[19]  M J Everett,et al.  Mapping of Birefringence and Thermal Damage in Tissue by use of Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography. , 1998, Applied optics.