title: Ultrahigh-resolution full-field optical coherence tomography.
abstract: We have developed a white-light interference microscope for ultrahigh-resolution full-field optical coherence tomography of biological media. The experimental setup is based on a Linnik-type interferometer illuminated by a tungsten halogen lamp. En face tomographic images are calculated by a combination of interferometric images recorded by a high-speed CCD camera. Spatial resolution of 1.8 microm x 0.9 microm (transverse x axial) is achieved owing to the extremely short coherence length of the source, the compensation of dispersion mismatch in the interferometer arms, and the use of relatively high-numerical-aperture microscope objectives. A shot-noise-limited detection sensitivity of 90 dB is obtained in an acquisition time per image of 4 s. Subcellular-level images of plant, animal, and human tissues are presented.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Optique Physique, Ecole Supérieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielles, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Propre de Recherche A0005, 10 rue Vauquelin, F-75231 Paris Cedex 5, France. dubois@optique.espci.fr
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grieve
authors.forename: Gael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moneron
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lecaque
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vabre
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boccara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008857:Microscopy, Interference / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods