title: Femtosecond transillumination optical coherence tomography.
abstract: We describe a new technique, femtosecond transillumination optical coherence tomography, for time-gated imaging of objects embedded in scattering media. Time gating is performed with a fiber-optic interferometer with femtosecond pulses and coherent heterodyne detection to achieve a 130-dB dynamic range. A confocal imaging arrangement provides additional spatial discrimination against multiply scattered light. By time gating ballistic photons, we achieve 125-microm-resolution images of absorbing objects in media 27 scattering mean free paths thick. We derive a fundamental limit on ballistic imaging thickness based on quantum noise considerations.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hee
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Izatt
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Swanson