Source module and optical system for line-field imaging

An optical coherence tomography system, comprising:

• a source module, the source module comprising:
• a light source operable to emit a divergent, source output beam of circular or elliptical cross-section;
• collimation optics arranged to convert the source output beam into a non-divergent, collimated beam of elliptical cross-section having a major axis and a minor axis;
• and
• a line-focusing cylindrical lens having a plano axis and a power axis, which is arranged with its plano axis aligned with the major axis of the collimated beam and its power axis aligned with the minor axis of the collimated beam so as to form a line focus extending along the major axis of the collimated beam,
• the system further comprising
• a beam splitter arranged
• to receive light output from the source module and
• to direct one component into a first, sample arm to an optical test sample and another component to a second, reference arm, and
• to recombine light received back from the first and second arms and direct the recombined light to a detector.