title: Swept source/Fourier domain polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography with a passive polarization delay unit.
abstract: Polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) is a functional imaging method that provides additional contrast using the light polarizing properties of a sample. This manuscript describes PS-OCT based on ultrahigh speed swept source / Fourier domain OCT operating at 1050 nm at 100 kHz axial scan rates using single mode fiber optics and a multiplexing approach. Unlike previously reported PS-OCT multiplexing schemes, the method uses a passive polarization delay unit and does not require active polarization modulating devices. This advance decreases system cost and avoids complex synchronization requirements. The polarization delay unit was implemented in the sample beam path in order to simultaneously illuminate the sample with two different polarization states. The orthogonal polarization components for the depth-multiplexed signals from the two input states were detected using dual balanced detection. PS-OCT images were computed using Jones calculus. 3D PS-OCT imaging was performed in the human and rat retina. In addition to standard OCT images, PS-OCT images were generated using contrast form birefringence and depolarization. Enhanced tissue discrimination as well as quantitative measurements of sample properties was demonstrated using the additional contrast and information contained in the PS-OCT images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: WooJhon
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Potsaid
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jay S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Duker
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation*