title: Jones matrix analysis for a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system using fiber-optic components.
abstract: We present an analysis for polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography that facilitates the unrestricted use of fiber and fiber-optic components throughout an interferometer and yields sample birefringence, diattenuation, and relative optic axis orientation. We use a novel Jones matrix approach that compares the polarization states of light reflected from the sample surface with those reflected from within a biological sample for pairs of depth scans. The incident polarization alternated between two states that are perpendicular in a Poincaré sphere representation to ensure proper detection of tissue birefringence regardless of optical fiber contributions. The method was validated by comparing the calculated diattenuation of a polarizing sheet, chicken tendon, and muscle with that obtained by independent measurement. The relative importance of diattenuation versus birefringence to angular displacement of Stokes vectors on a Poincaré sphere was quantified.
authors.affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. hylepark@helix.mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: B Hyle
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cense
authors.forename: Johannes F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Boer
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology; D055100:Optical Fibers; D013710:Tendons / Q000166:cytology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*