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Noise of supercontinuum sources in spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Jensen, Mikkel, Gonzalo, Iván Bravo, Engelsholm, Rasmus Dybbro, Maria, Michael, Israelsen, Niels Møller, Podoleanu, Adrian G.H., Bang, Ole (2019) Noise of supercontinuum sources in spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Journal of the Optical Society of America B, 36 (2). A154-A160. ISSN 0740-3224. (doi:10.1364/JOSAB.36.00A154) (KAR id:72051)

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the effect of pulse-to-pulse fluctuations of super continuum sources on the noise in spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. The commonly quoted theoretical expression for the OCT noise is derived for a thermal light source, which is not suitable if a super continuum light source is used. We therefore propose a new, measurement-based OCT noise model that predicts the noise without any assumptions on the type of light source. We show that the predicted noise values are in excellent agreement with the measured values. The spectral correlation evaluated for the photo detected signal when using a supercontinuum determines the shape of the OCT noise floor, which must be taken into account when characterising the sensitivity roll-off of a supercontinuum-based OCT system. The spectral correlations using both conventional supercontinuum sources and low-noise all-normal dispersion super continuum sources are investigated, and the fundamental physical effects that cause these correlations are discussed.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1364/JOSAB.36.00A154
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Depositing User: Adrian Podoleanu
Date Deposited: 28 Jan 2019 16:49 UTC
Last Modified: 05 Nov 2024 12:34 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/72051 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Podoleanu, Adrian G.H..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4899-9656
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