title: Optical-domain subsampling for data efficient depth ranging in Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography.
abstract: Recent advances in optical coherence tomography (OCT) have led to higher-speed sources that support imaging over longer depth ranges. Limitations in the bandwidth of state-of-the-art acquisition electronics, however, prevent adoption of these advances into the clinical applications. Here, we introduce optical-domain subsampling as a method for imaging at high-speeds and over extended depth ranges but with a lower acquisition bandwidth than that required using conventional approaches. Optically subsampled laser sources utilize a discrete set of wavelengths to alias fringe signals along an extended depth range into a bandwidth limited frequency window. By detecting the complex fringe signals and under the assumption of a depth-constrained signal, optical-domain subsampling enables recovery of the depth-resolved scattering signal without overlapping artifacts from this bandwidth-limited window. We highlight key principles behind optical-domain subsampled imaging, and demonstrate this principle experimentally using a polygon-filter based swept-source laser that includes an intra-cavity Fabry-Perot (FP) etalon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard-MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. siddiqui@mit.edu
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Vakoc
mesh_terms: D044962:Data Compression; D004560:Electricity; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007368:Interferometry; D007834:Lasers; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*