Stabilization of continuum generation from normally dispersive nonlinear optical fibers for a tunable broad bandwidth source for optical coherence tomography.
Continuum generation from normally dispersive ultrahigh-numerical-aperture fibers deteriorates in relatively short times, limiting its application as a practical optical source for high-resolution optical coherence tomography. We find that reversible light-induced structural modification of fiber optic materials, rather than permanent optical damage, is responsible for this deterioration. By examining how the optical properties of corresponding light-induced waveguides depend on pumping wavelength, we isolate a waveguide that is beneficial for stable continuum generation. The performance deterioration due to the formation of other waveguides can be reversed by overwriting them with this particular waveguide.
Tu
Haohua
H
Biophotonics Imaging Laboratory, Bechman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at UrbanChampaign, Urbana. Illinois 61801, USA.
Marks
Daniel L
DL
Koh
Yee Lin
YL
Boppart
Stephen A
SA
D004867:Equipment Design; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005898:Glass; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D008027:Light; D008857:Microscopy, Interference; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D055100:Optical Fibers; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017785:Photons; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*