Full-field birefringence imaging by thermal-light polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. I. Theory

Quantitative phase-amplitude surface determination in reflection differential interference contrast profilometry

An approach for measuring the surface profile of the samples with reflection variations using the Nomarski differential interference method is presented. The system is analyzed with Jones's matrices tool, and polarization effects of a non-polarizing beam splitter are taken into account. Equations are also developed to allow the determination of the surface profile from interference intensity when the sample reflectively is not uniform. The validity and accuracy of the measurement are verified by measuring the adhered silicon cantilever on a substrate with high reflectivity. This method is expected to be a valuable tool to inspect elements of micromechanics and microsystems.

En face optical coherence tomography: a technology review [Invited]

A review on the technological development of en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence microscopy (OCM) is provided. The terminology originally referred to time domain OCT, where the preferential scanning was performed in the en face plane. Potentially the fastest realization of en face image recording is full-field OCT, where the full en face plane is illuminated and recorded simultaneously. The term has nowadays been adopted for high-speed Fourier domain approaches, where the en face image is reconstructed from full 3D volumes either by direct slicing or through axial projection in post processing. The success of modern en face OCT lies in its immediate and easy image interpretation, which is in particular of advantage for OCM or OCT angiography. Applications of en face OCT with a focus on ophthalmology are presented. The review concludes by outlining exciting technological prospects of en face OCT based both on time as well as on Fourier domain OCT.

Image contrast reduction mechanism in full-field optical coherence tomography

Correct interpretation of image contrast obtained with full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) technique is required for accurate medical diagnosis applications. In this work, first, the characteristics of microscopic structures of tissue that generate the contrast in en-face tomographic image obtained with FFOCT are discussed. Then an overview is given of the parameters that affect image contrast. Finally, the contrast correction factor for correct image interpretation and the contrast limits to practical FFOCT systems are outlined.

Full-field optical coherence tomography using immersion Mirau interference microscope

In this study, an immersion Mirau interference microscope was developed for full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT). Both the reference and measuring arms of the Mirau interferometer were filled with water to prevent the problems associated with imaging a sample in air with conventional FFOCT systems. The almost-common path interferometer makes the tomographic system less sensitive to environmental disturbances. En face OCT images at various depths were obtained with phase-shifting interferometry and Hariharan algorithm. This immersion interferometric method improves depth and quality in three-dimensional OCT imaging of scattering tissue.

Spectroscopic polarization-sensitive full-field optical coherence tomography

Full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) is a recent optical imaging technology based on low-coherence interference microscopy for imaging of semi-transparent samples with ~1 µm spatial resolution. FF-OCT produces en-face tomographic images obtained by arithmetic combination of interferometric images acquired by an array camera. In this paper, we demonstrate a unique multimodal FF-OCT system, capable of measuring simultaneously the intensity, the power spectrum and the phase-retardation of light backscattered by the sample being imaged. Compared to conventional FF-OCT, this multimodal system provides enhanced imaging contrasts at the price of a moderate increase in experimental complexity and cost.

Full-field and full-range sequential measurement of the slow axis angle and phase retardation of linear birefringent materials

A method is proposed for obtaining full-range sequential measurements of the slow axis angle and phase retardation of linear birefringent materials (LBMs) using a full-field heterodyne interferometer with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and an image processing algorithm based on a three-frame integrating-bucket method. The dynamic ranges of the principal axis and phase retardation measurements extend from 0 degrees to 180 degrees and from 0 degrees to 360 degrees , respectively. The proposed method not only enables full-range measurements of the slow axis angle to be obtained, but also allows a decision to be made as to whether the principal axis labeled by the manufacturer is the slow axis or the fast axis. The standard deviations of the slow axis angle and phase retardation measurements are found to be 0.14 degrees and 0.27 degrees, respectively. In addition, it is shown that the noises induced by environmental disturbances are reduced by elimination of the dc component of the output light intensity in the image processing algorithm. We also investigate the sensitivity of the measured error caused by the orientation of LBM.

Coupling dielectric waveguide modes to surface plasmon polaritons

We study dielectric/metal thin film multilayers designed for the coupling of dielectric waveguide modes and surface plasmons. The coupling as identified in calculated dispersion relations for extended multilayers is confirmed by measured angle-resolved reflectance data. By lateral structuring of the multilayers the mutual coupling of dielectric and plasmonic modes is directly observed by fluorescence based microscopy. For a light wavelength of 514nm we find a coupling length of 15microm. Our results highlight the potential of hybrid dielectric/metal waveguides for integrating surface plasmon based photonic circuitry or sensing elements into conventional optical devices.

Reconfigurable optical channel waveguides in lithium niobate crystals produced by combination of low-dose O3+ ion implantation and selective white light illumination

We report on a new method to form reconfigurable channel waveguides in lithium niobate crystals, based on a combination of low-dose O(3+) ion implantation and selective white light illumination. The fabricated structures show low loss as well as rather high resistivity against optical erasure with red or infrared light, while at the same time reconfiguration of the structures remains possible using homogeneous white light illumination. The transmission properties of the channel waveguide modes can be well simulated numerically by the beam propagation method, which allows for the fabrication of tailored optical interconnections.

Partial polarization of light induced by random defects at surfaces or bulks

Partial polarization may be the result of a scattering process from a fully polarized incident beam. It is shown how the "loss of polarization" is connected with the nature of scatterers (surface roughness, bulk heterogeneity) and on the receiver solid angle. These effects are theoretically predicted and confirmed via multiscale polarization measurements in the speckle pattern of rough surfaces. "Full" polarization can be recovered when reducing the receiver aperture.

Longitudinal coherence of organic-based microcavity lasers

We report on the measurement of the longitudinal coherence of organic microcavity lasers based on a conjugated polymer. By using a modified Michelson interferometer configuration enabling single-shot measurements of the coherence length, the transition from spontaneous emission to lasing is investigated. The measured coherence length grows upon increasing the pumping fluence, saturating around 45 microm above threshold. At large fluences, possible thermal and photo-oxidation processes occurring in the gain medium limit the further increase of the coherence length. Our results are important for understanding lasing emission in organic microcavities and optimizing the device design and performances.

Nano-FROG: Frequency resolved optical gating by a nanometric object

We present a technique to characterize ultrashort pulses at the focal plane of a high numerical aperture objective with unprecedented spatial resolution, by performing a FROG measurement with a single nanocrystal as nonlinear medium. This approach can be extended to develop novel phase-sensitive techniques in laser scanning microscopy, probing the microscopic environment by monitoring phase and amplitude distortions of femtosecond laser pulses.

Generation of femtosecond diffraction-compensated beam through an opaque disk

The generation of a femtosecond diffraction-compensated beam through an opaque disk is presented: 100 fs pulses are focused in the vicinity of an opaque disk. A bright beam surrounded by concentric rings is generated. The beam can be collimated by a lens. A non-diffracting femtosecond beam which conserves a 500microm large central spot over more than 1.7m is then observed, without any nonlinear mechanism. Our theoretical analysis predicts well the results.

Design of a continuous-wave tunable terahertz source using waveguide-phase-matched GaAs

A novel source of continuous-wave terahertz radiation based on difference frequency generation (DFG) in GaAs crystal is proposed. Phase matching is provided using integration of appropriate optical and terahertz waveguides based on dispersive properties of GaAs. The output frequency can be tuned between 0-3.5 THz by tuning the incident wavelengths in the range of 1.5-1.6 microm.

Improved accuracy in time-resolved diffuse reflectance spectroscopy

Significant improvements in the accuracy of time-resolved diffuse reflectance spectroscopy are reached by using a Monte Carlo scheme for evaluation of measured photon time-of-flight distributions. The use of time-resolved diffusion theory of photon migration, being the current standard scheme for data evaluation, is shown defective. In particular, the familiar problem sometimes referred to as absorption-to-scattering coupling or crosstalk, is identified as an error related to the breakdown of the diffusion approximation. These systematic errors are investigated numerically using Monte Carlo simulations, and their influence on data evaluation of experimental recordings are accurately predicted. The proposed Monte Carlo-based data evaluation avoids these errors, and can be used for routine data evaluation. The accuracy and reproducibility of both MC and diffusion modeling are investigated experimentally using the MEDPHOT set of solid tissue-simulating phantoms, and provides convincing arguments that Monte Carlo-based evaluation is crucial in important ranges of optical properties. In contrast to diffusion-based evaluation, the Monte Carlo scheme results in optical properties consistent with phantom design. Since the MEDPHOT phantoms are used for international comparisons and performance assessment, the performed characterization is carefully reported.

An improved double-pulse non-normal incidence pumping geometry for transient collisionally excited soft X-ray lasers

An optimized pumping geometry for transient collisionally excited soft X-ray lasers is presented, similar to the geometry proposed by [1]. In contrast to usual approaches, where a nanosecond pre-pulse is assumed to provide the optimal plasma preparation and a picosecond pulse performs the final heating- and excitation process, two pulses of equal duration in the range around 10 picoseconds are applied. Both pulses are produced in the front end of the CPA pump laser. They are focused onto the target with the same spherical mirror under non-normal incidence geometry, optimized for efficient traveling wave excitation for the main-pulse. A first experiment was performed on Ni-like palladium (14.7 nm) at less than 500mJ total pulse energy on the target. This proves that this configuration is at least as favorable as the standard GRIP scheme, providing much simpler and more reliable operation.

Optical spatial solitons at the interface between two dissimilar periodic media: theory and experiment

Discrete spatial solitons traveling along the interface between two dissimilar one-dimensional arrays of waveguides were observed for the first time. Two interface solitons were found theoretically, each one with a peak in a different boundary channel. One evolves into a soliton from a linear mode at an array separation larger than a critical separation where-as the second soliton always exhibits a power threshold. These solitons exhibited different power thresholds which depended on the characteristics of the two lattices. For excitation of single channels near and at the boundary, the evolution behavior with propagation distance indicates that the solitons peaked near and at the interface experience an attractive potential on one side of the boundary, and a repulsive one on the opposite side. The power dependence of the solitons at variable distance from the boundary was found to be quite different on opposite sides of the interface and showed evidence for soliton switching between channels with increasing input power.

Optical homodyne PSK demonstration of 1.5 photons per bit at 156 Mbps with rate-(1/2) turbo coding

We report the first demonstration of a near quantum-limited optical homodyne PSK receiver combined with powerful forward-error-correction coding, achieving 1.5 photons/bit sensitivity, within 4.5 dB of the Shannon limit. Phase-locking was achieved at 1.55 microm using an analog dither-based optical phase-locked loop with an external phase modulator. Analysis for this configuration with arbitrary loop damping is given showing a performance advantage for the overdamped case.

A WDM passive optical network enabling multicasting with color-free ONUs

We propose a wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) passive optical network (PON) to provide conventional unicast data and downstream multicast function. At the optical line terminal (OLT), for each WDM channel, a dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (DDMZM) is used to generate a sub-carrier double-sideband differential-phase-shift-keying (DPSK) signal. All the central carriers are separated and subsequently modulated to deliver the multicast data, while the remaining sub-carrier DPSK signals carry the downstream unicast traffic. In the optical network units (ONUs), part of the downstream unicast signal power is re-modulated for upstream transmission, which enables source-free ONUs. The proposed scheme is experimentally demonstrated with 1.25-Gb/s downstream unicast, multicast and upstream data.

Compact spatial polariscope for light polarization state analysis

A new setup established to measure the light polarization state and the birefringent media parameters is proposed. The described setup consists of two pairs of the linear Wollaston compensators and circular compensators which form a set of two spatially modulated elliptical compensators. These compensators could be used separately as a spatial generator of polarization states and as an analyzer. Using them together allows us to establish a polariscopic setup in which the birefringent media parameters could be measured. When analyzing both the light polarization state and the birefringent media parameters the singular points in the output light intensity appear. The coordinates of these points depend linearly on the azimuth and ellipticity angles of the examined light or on the eigenvectors of the birefringent medium, while the measured light maximum value corresponds to the phase shift for the measurements of the birefringent medium parameters. Neither movable parts nor active elements are needed and no complicated analysis of output light should be made to calculate the desired quantities.

Generation of optical carrier suppressed-differential phase shift keying (OCS-DPSK) format using one dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator in radio over fiber systems

We present and experimentally demonstrate a new method to generate optical carrier suppressed-differential phase-shift keying (OCSDPSK) modulation format in radio over fiber (RoF) systems. In our scheme, a single dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator (DPMZM) is used to produce OCS-DPSK signal based on amplitude shift keying (ASK) to DPSK format conversion by suppressing the spectral tones of an OCS-ASK signal.

Myocardial tissue characterization based on a polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography system with an ultrashort pulsed laser

A polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PSOCT) system using a femtosecond-laser as the broadband light source is implemented with the axial resolution of 5 microm in free space. Through the design of path-length difference between the two polarization inputs and the modulation of one of the polarization inputs, the PSOCT images of various input and output polarization combinations can be distinguished and simultaneously collected. The PSOCT system is then used for in vitro scanning of the myocardium tissues of normal and infarcted rat hearts. The destruction of the birefringence nature of the fiber muscle in the infarcted heart can be clearly observed.

Fundamental characteristics of a synthesized light source for optical coherence tomography

We describe the fundamental characteristics of a synthesized light source (SLS) consisting of two low-coherence light sources to enhance the spatial resolution for optical coherence tomography (OCT). The axial resolution of OCT is given by half the coherence length of the light source. We fabricated a SLS with a coherence length of 2.3 microm and a side-lobe intensity of 45% with an intensity ratio of LED1:LED2 = 1:0.5 by combining two light sources, LED1, with a central wavelength of 691 nm and a spectral bandwidth of 99 nm, and LED2, with a central wavelength of 882 nm and a spectral bandwidth of 76 nm. The coherence length of 2.3 microm was 56% of the shorter coherence length in the two LEDs, which indicates that the axial resolution is 1.2 microm. The lateral resolution was measured at less than 4.4 microm by use of the phase-shift method and with a test pattern as a sample. The measured rough surfaces of a coin are illustrated and discussed.

Full-field birefringence imaging by thermal-light polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. II. Instrument and results

We describe an instrument for measuring the magnitude of birefringence of tomographic images and the principal directions of axes that use thermal-light polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. The instrument permits full-field measurements with an axial resolution of 1.5 microm and a transverse resolution limited by diffraction. We obtained a sensitivity of 84 dB, limited by shot noise, when we integrated the signal for 1 s. We verified the validity of the measurement by measuring the birefringence of a variable phase shifter. We present typical results obtained with optical samples.