title: Study of an ultrahigh-numerical-aperture fiber continuum generation source for optical coherence tomography.
abstract: The axial resolution of optical coherence tomography images is primarily dependent on the bandwidth of the illumination source. Continuum generation is one way to generate the single-mode, high-bandwidth light needed for point illumination. We present an inexpensive and easy-to-implement augmentation to a Ti:sapphire laser that widens the bandwidth from 20 to over 200 nm with commerically available ultrahigh-numerical-aperture fiber. This technique can provide a readily available broad-bandwidth source for researchers and a practical enhancement to a fiber-optic optical coherence tomography system.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Oldenburg
authors.forename: J Joshua
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Boppart