Methods and apparatus for swept-source optical coherence tomography
AssigneeLightLab Imaging, Inc.
InventorJoseph M. Schmitt
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Abstract
In one embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) in a laser ring is chosen to provide low polarization-dependent gain (PDG) and a booster semiconductor optical amplifier, outside of the ring, is chosen to provide high polarization-dependent gain. The use of a semiconductor optical amplifier with low polarization-dependent gain nearly eliminates variations in the polarization state of the light at the output of the laser, but does not eliminate the intra-sweep variations in the polarization state at the output of the laser, which can degrade the performance of the SS-OCT system.
Claims21
An optical coherence tomography data collection apparatus, the apparatus comprising
- a first gain element;
- a second gain element, each gain element having a different gain dependence on polarization;
- and
- a Fourier-domain mode-locked laser defining a cavity, the laser comprising
- a frequency tuning element in optical communication with the first gain element, the first gain element disposed within the laser cavity;
- the second gain element disposed outside the cavity,
- wherein the gain dependence on polarization of the first gain element is less than the gain dependence on polarization of the second gain element.
An optical coherence tomography data collection apparatus, the apparatus comprising
- a first gain element;
- a second gain element, each gain element having a different gain dependence on polarization;
- and
- a laser defining a cavity, the laser comprising
- a frequency tuning element in optical communication with the first gain element, the first gain element disposed within the laser cavity;
- the second gain element disposed outside the cavity,
- wherein the gain dependence on polarization of the first gain element is less than the gain dependence on polarization of the second gain element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.