title: Improving the efficiency of optical coherence tomography by using the non-ideal behaviour of a polarising beam splitter.
abstract: We present a new way of improving the efficiency of optical coherence tomography by using the polarisation crosstalk of a polarising beam splitter to direct most of the available source optical power to the sample. The use of a quarter wave plate in both the reference and the sample arms allows most of the sample power to be directed to the detector while adjusting the reference arm to ensure noise optimised operation. As a result, the sensitivity of such a system can be improved by 6 dB, or alternatively the acquisition time can be improved by a factor of 4 for shot noise limited performance,compared to a traditional OCT configuration using a 50/50 beam splitter.
authors.affiliation: Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. nlip001@aucklanduni.ac.nz
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lippok
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vanholsbeeck
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007368:Interferometry / Q000379:methods; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*