title: Common-path interferometer for frequency-domain optical coherence tomography.
abstract: A Michelson-type spectral interferometer that uses a common beam path for the reference and the sample arms is described. This optical arrangement is more compact and stable than the more commonly used dual-arm interferometer and is well suited for frequency-domain optical coherence tomography of biological samples. With a 16-bit CCD camera, the instrument has sufficient dynamic range and resolution for imaging to depths of 2 mm in scattering biological materials. Images obtained with this spectral interferometer are presented, including cross-sectional images in a Xenopus laevis tadpole.
authors.affiliation: Southwest Sciences, Inc., 1570 Pacheco Street, Suite E-11, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505, USA.
authors.forename: Andrei B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Vakhtin
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Kristen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007814:Larva; D008857:Microscopy, Interference / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014741:Video Recording / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014982:Xenopus laevis