Agile imaging system

A method for generating a wavelength tuning waveform of an optical imaging system, comprising:

• a tunable source generating output optical radiation, the tunable source comprising a wavelength tunable vertical cavity laser (VCL), the VCL comprising a first and second laser mirror that form a laser cavity having a cavity length, an actuator configured to vary the laser cavity length, the VCL generating a single longitudinal mode lasing output that is tunable over an emission wavelength range for generating wavelength sweeps at a sweep repetition rate, wherein the laser cavity free spectral range is at least as wide as the emission wavelength range and the tuning over the entire emission wavelength range is mode hop free, and wherein the actuator and VCL are capable of operating over at least a 12% variation in the sweep repetition rate;
• a tuning driver, the tuning driver being capable of generating one or more wavelength tuning waveforms to affect the actuator which determines a sweep trajectory, a sweep speed, the sweep repetition rate, a sweep linearity, and the emission wavelength range;
• a current driver that supplies current to a gain material within the tunable source to adjust output optical radiation power;
• a monitoring detector configured to measure attributes of a tuning response of the tunable source and provide feedback to correct for disturbances to the tunable source or to generate the one or more wavelength tuning waveforms;
• an optical interferometer with a reference arm and a sample arm illuminated by said tunable source;
• one or more optical detectors that convert optical interference fringe signals from the optical interferometer into electric analog signals;
• and a data acquisition device to convert the electric analog signals output from the one or more detectors into digital data, the method comprising the steps of:
• expressing the wavelength tuning waveform as a function of adjustable input parameter values to create a tuning waveform expression;
• applying the wavelength tuning waveform to the actuator or a mathematical model of the actuator dynamics to generate at least one experimental measurement or simulated wavelength sweep;
• calculating a value of a performance metric or an objective function based on the at least one experimental measurement or the simulated wavelength sweep;
• adjusting the input parameter values to optimize the value of the performance metric or objective function.