Single trace multi-channel low coherence interferometric sensor

A sensor comprising:

• at least one light source:
• two or more sample arms, each sample arm having a different pathlength coupled to the at least one light source, wherein light from the at least one light source is propagated through the two or more sample arms to a sample and backscattered light is collected from the sample and propagated back through the two or more sample arms;
• one or more reference arms, each having an adjustable delay to the at one light source, wherein light from the light source is propagated through the one or more reference arms and reflected back to through the one or more reference arms to make reference light and wherein each adjustable delay is capable of modifying the pathlength of a reference arm to match the pathlength of each of the two or more sample arms;
• a coupler configured to combine backscattered light from the two or more sample arms and reference light from the one or more reference arms to produce an interference signal;
• and
• a detector coupled to the coupler that detects the interference signal and produces an output signal;
• and
• a processor coupled to the detector that resolves the output signals from the detector in a single trace wherein a single trace represents a sweep of the adjustable delay of the one or more reference arms and includes resolved interferometric signals for each of the two or more sample arms.