title: A rapid, dispersion-based wavelength-stepped and wavelength-swept laser for optical coherence tomography.
abstract: Optical-domain subsampling enables Fourier-domain OCT imaging at high-speeds and extended depth ranges while limiting the required acquisition bandwidth. To perform optical-domain subsampling, a wavelength-stepped rather than a wavelength-swept source is required. This preliminary study introduces a novel design for a rapid wavelength-stepped laser source that uses dispersive fibers in combination with a fast lithium-niobate modulator to achieve wavelength selection. A laser with 200 GHz wavelength-stepping and a sweep rate of 9 MHz over a 94 nm range at a center wavelength of 1550 nm is demonstrated. A reconfiguration of this source design to a continuous wavelength-swept light for conventional Fourier-domain OCT is also demonstrated.
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tozburun
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Vakoc
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007834:Lasers; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000295:instrumentation*