Comparison of three-dimensional optical coherence tomography and high resolution photography for art conservation studies

Virtual Hall sensor triggered multi-MHz endoscopic OCT imaging for stable real-time visualization

Circumferential scanning in endoscopic imaging is crucial across various disciplines, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) is often the preferred choice due to its high-speed, high-resolution, and micron-scale imaging capabilities. Moreover, real-time and high-speed 3D endoscopy is a pivotal technology for medical screening and precise surgical guidance, among other applications. However, challenges such as image jitter and non-uniform rotational distortion (NURD) are persistent obstacles that hinder real-time visualization during high-speed OCT procedures. To address this issue, we developed an innovative, low-cost endoscope that employs a brushless DC motor for scanning, and a sensorless technique for triggering and synchronizing OCT imaging with the scanning motor. This sensorless approach uses the motor's electrical feedback (back electromotive force, BEMF) as a virtual Hall sensor to initiate OCT image acquisition and synchronize it with a Fourier Domain Mode-Locked (FDML)-based Megahertz OCT system. Notably, the implementation of BEMF-triggered OCT has led to a substantial reduction in image jitter and NURD (<4 mrad), thereby opening up a new window for real-time visualization capabilities. This approach suggests potential benefits across various applications, aiming to provide a more accurate, deployable, and cost-effective solution. Subsequent studies can explore the adaptability of this system to specific clinical scenarios and its performance under practical endoscopic conditions.

Multi-scale optical coherence tomography imaging and visualization of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring

We demonstrate multi-scale multi-parameter optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and visualization of Johannes Vermeer's painting Girl with a Pearl Earring. Through automated acquisition, OCT image segmentation, and 3D volume stitching we realize OCT imaging at the scale of an entire painting. This makes it possible to image, with micrometer axial and lateral resolution, an entire painting over more than 5 orders of length scale. From the multi-scale OCT data we quantify multiple parameters in a fully automated way: the surface height, the scattering strength, and the combined glaze and varnish layer thickness. The multi-parameter OCT data of Girl with a Pearl Earring shows various features: Vermeer's brushstrokes, surface craquelure, paint losses, and restorations. Through an interactive visualization of the Girl, based on the OCT data and the optical properties of historical reconstructions of Vermeer's paint, we can virtually study the effect of the lighting condition, viewing angle, zoom level and presence/absence of glaze layer. The interactive visualization shows various new painting features. It demonstrates that the glaze layer structure and its optical properties were essential to Vermeer to create an extremely strong light to dark contrast between the figure and the background that gives the painting such an iconic aesthetic appeal.

Optical measurements of paintings and the creation of an artwork database for authenticity

Paintings have high cultural and commercial value, so that needs to be preserved. Many techniques have been attempted to analyze properties of paintings, including X-ray analysis and optical coherence tomography (OCT) methods, and enable conservation of paintings from forgeries. In this paper, we suggest a simple and accurate optical analysis system to protect them from counterfeit which is comprised of fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) and line laser-based topographic analysis. The system is designed to fully cover the whole area of paintings regardless of its size for the accurate analysis. For additional assessments, a line laser-based high resolved OCT was utilized. Some forgeries were created by the experts from the three different styles of genuine paintings for the experiments. After measuring surface properties of paintings, we could observe the results from the genuine works and the forgeries have the distinctive characteristics. The forgeries could be distinguished maximally 76.5% with obtained RGB spectra by FORS and 100% by topographic analysis. Through the several executions, the reliability of the system was confirmed. We could verify that the measurement system is worthwhile for the conservation of the valuable paintings. To store the surface information of the paintings in micron scale, we created a numerical database. Consequently, we secured the databases of three different famous Korean paintings for accurate authenticity.

Wavelength shifting of intra-cavity photons: Adiabatic wavelength tuning in rapidly wavelength-swept lasers

We analyze the physics behind the newest generation of rapidly wavelength tunable sources for optical coherence tomography (OCT), retaining a single longitudinal cavity mode during operation without repeated build up of lasing. In this context, we theoretically investigate the currently existing concepts of rapidly wavelength-swept lasers based on tuning of the cavity length or refractive index, leading to an altered optical path length inside the resonator. Specifically, we consider vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with microelectromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors as well as Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) and Vernier-tuned distributed Bragg reflector (VT-DBR) lasers. Based on heuristic arguments and exact analytical solutions of Maxwell's equations for a fundamental laser resonator model, we show that adiabatic wavelength tuning is achieved, i.e., hopping between cavity modes associated with a repeated build up of lasing is avoided, and the photon number is conserved. As a consequence, no fundamental limit exists for the wavelength tuning speed, in principle enabling wide-range wavelength sweeps at arbitrary tuning speeds with narrow instantaneous linewidth.

Defect detection and property evaluation of indium tin oxide conducting glass using optical coherence tomography

This study demonstrates a new approach for evaluating the properties of indium tin oxide (ITO) conducting glass and identifying defects using optical coherence tomography (OCT). A swept-source OCT system was implemented to scan the ITO conducting glass to enable two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging. With OCT scanning, the defects can be clearly identified at various depths. Several parameters in addition to morphological information can be estimated simultaneously, including the thickness of the glass substrate, the refractive index, reflection coefficient, and transmission coefficient, all of which can be used to evaluate the quality of ITO conducting glass. This study developed a modified method for evaluating the refractive index of glass substrates without having to perform multiple scans as well as a segmentation algorithm to separate the interfaces. The results show the potential of OCT as an imaging tool for the inspection of defects in ITO conducting glass.

Structural examination of easel paintings with optical coherence tomography

Identification of the order, thickness, composition, and possibly the origin of the paint layers forming the structure of a painting, that is, its stratigraphy, is important in confirming its attribution and history as well as planning conservation treatments. The most common method of examination is analysis of a sample collected from the art object, both visually with a microscope and instrumentally through a variety of sophisticated, modern analytical tools. Because of its invasiveness, however, sampling is less than ideally compatible with conservation ethics; it is severely restricted with respect to the amount of material extirpated from the artwork. Sampling is also rather limited in that it provides only very local information. There is, therefore, a great need for a noninvasive method with sufficient in-depth resolution for resolving the stratigraphy of works of art. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive, noncontact method of optical sectioning of partially transparent objects, with micrometer-level axial resolution. The method utilizes near-infrared light of low intensity (a few milliwatts) to obtain cross-sectional images of various objects; it has been mostly used in medical diagnostics. Through the serial collection of many such images, volume information may be extracted. The application of OCT to the examination of art objects has been in development since 2003. In this Account, we present a short introduction to the technique, briefly discuss the apparatus we use, and provide a paradigm for reading OCT tomograms. Unlike the majority of papers published previously, this Account focuses on one, very specific, use of OCT. We then consider two examples of successful, practical application of the technique. At the request of a conservation studio, the characteristics of inscriptions on two oil paintings, originating from the 18th and 19th centuries, were analyzed. In the first case, it was possible to resolve some questions concerning the history of the work. From an analysis of the positions of the paint layers involved in three inscriptions in relation to other strata of the painting, the order of events in its history was resolved. It was evident that the original text had been overpainted and that the other inscriptions were added later, thus providing convincing evidence as to the painting's true date of creation. In the second example, a painting was analyzed with the aim of confirming the possibility of forgery of the artist's signature, and evidence strongly supporting this supposition is presented. These two specific examples of successful use of the technique on paintings further demonstrate how OCT may be readily adaptable to other similar tasks, such as in the fields of forensic or materials science. In a synergistic approach, in which information is obtained with a variety of noninvasive techniques, OCT is demonstrably effective and offers great potential for further development.

Contribution of surface state characterization to studies of works of art

This paper has two purposes. The first one underlines that qualitative and quantitative studies of surface states lead to relevant information for analyzing works of art, with lots of potential for art history, restorers, and curators. The discrimination between different artistic techniques and the influence of a varnish on the leveling of paint surfaces are presented. The second purpose is the comparison between different nondestructive optical topographic methods, i.e., goniophotometry, optical coherence topography, and confocal microscopy, according to their accuracy, their discriminatory ability, their practicability inside a museum, and the size limits of the studied objects.

Speckle noise reduction in optical coherence tomography of paint layers

We present and characterize a sequential angular compounding method for reducing speckle contrast in optical coherence tomography images of paint layers. The results are compared with postprocessing methods, and we show that the compounding technique can improve the speckle contrast ratio in B-scans by better than a factor of 2 in exchange for a negligible loss of resolution. As a result, image aesthetics are improved, thin layers become more distinct, and edge-detection algorithms work more efficiently. The effect of varying the angular scan size and number of averages is investigated, and it is found that a degree of statistical correlation between speckle patterns exists, even for relatively large changes in angle of incidence. Angular compounding is also performed on three-dimensional data sets and compared with a method whereby en face slices are averaged over depth.

Structural and optical properties of wood and wood finishes studied using optical coherence tomography: application to an 18th century Italian violin

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is especially attractive for the study of cultural heritage artifacts because it is noninvasive and nondestructive. We have developed an original full-field time-domain OCT system dedicated to the investigation of varnished and painted artifacts: an interferometric Mirau objective allows one to perform the scan without moving the works of art. The axial and transverse high resolution (respectively, 1.5 and 1 microm) are well adapted to the detection of the investigated structures (pigment grains, wood fibers, etc.). The illumination spectrum is in the visible range (centered at 630 nm, 150 nm wide) to potentially allow us to perform spectroscopic OCT on pigment particles. The examination of wood samples coated with a traditional finish, demonstrates the ability of the system to detect particles, characterize layers thickness, and image the three-dimensional wood structures below the varnishes. OCT has finally been applied to study in situ the coated wood surface of an 18th century Italian violin and provides important information for its conservation treatment.

Wavelength swept amplified spontaneous emission source

We present a new, alternative approach to realize a wavelength swept light source with no fundamental limit to sweep speed. Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light alternately passes a cascade of optical gain elements and tunable optical bandpass filters. We show that for high sweep speeds, the control signal for the different filters has to be applied with a defined, precise phase delay on the order of nanoseconds, to compensate for the light propagation time between the filters and ensure optimum operation. At a center wavelength of 1300 nm sweep rates of 10 kHz, 100 kHz and 340 kHz over a sweep range of 100 nm full width and an average power of 50 mW are demonstrated. For application in optical coherence tomography (OCT), an axial resolution of 12 microm (air), a sensitivity of 120 dB (50 mW) and a dynamic range of 50 dB are achieved and OCT imaging is demonstrated. Performance parameters like coherence properties and relative intensity noise (RIN) are quantified, discussed and compared to the performance of Fourier Domain Mode Locked (FDML) lasers. Physical models for the observed difference in performance are provided.

Dispersion, coherence and noise of Fourier domain mode locked lasers

We report on the effect of chromatic dispersion on coherence length and noise of Fourier Domain Mode Locked (FDML) lasers. An FDML laser with a sweep range of 100 nm around 1550 nm has been investigated. Cavity configurations with and without dispersion compensation have been analyzed using different widths of the intra-cavity optical band-pass filter. The measurements are compared to non-FDML wavelength swept laser sources. Based on these observations, a simple model is developed providing a connection between timing, photon cavity lifetime and characteristic time constant of the filter. In an optimized configuration, an instantaneous laser linewidth of 20 pm is observed, corresponding to a 10x narrowing compared to the intra-cavity optical bandpass filter. A relative intensity noise of -133 dBc/Hz or 0.2% at 100 MHz detection bandwidth during sweep operation is observed. For optimum operation, the filter drive frequency has to be set within 2 ppm or 120 mHz at 51 kHz.

K-space linear Fourier domain mode locked laser and applications for optical coherence tomography

We report on a Fourier Domain Mode Locked (FDML) wavelength swept laser source with a highly linear time-frequency sweep characteristic and demonstrate OCT imaging without k-space resampling prior to Fourier transformation. A detailed theoretical framework is provided and different strategies how to determine the optimum drive waveform of the piezo-electrically actuated optical bandpass-filter in the FDML laser are discussed. An FDML laser with a relative optical frequency deviation ??nu/nu smaller than 8 x10(-5) over a 100 nm spectral bandwidth at 1300 nm is presented, enabling high resolution OCT over long ranging depths. Without numerical time-to-frequency resampling and without spectral apodization a sensitivity roll off of 4 dB over 2 mm, 12.5 dB over 4 mm and 26.5 dB over 1 cm at 3.5 mus sweep duration and 106.6 dB maximum sensitivity at 9.2 mW average power is achieved. The axial resolution in air degrades from 14 to 21 mum over 4 mm imaging depth. The compensation of unbalanced dispersion in the OCT sample arm by an adapted tuning characteristic of the source is demonstrated. Good stability of the system without feedback-control loops is observed over hours.