3x3 Mach-Zehnder interferometer with unbalanced differential detection for full-range swept-source optical coherence tomography

Appl Opt. 2008 Apr 20;47(12):2004-10. doi: 10.1364/ao.47.002004.

Abstract

Quadrature interferometry based on 3x3 fiber couplers could be used to double the effective imaging depth in swept-source optical coherence tomography. This is due to its ability to suppress the complex conjugate artifact naturally. We present theoretical and experimental results for a 3x3 Mach-Zehnder interferometer using a new unbalanced differential optical detection method. The new interferometer provides simultaneous access to complementary phase components of the complex interferometric signal. No calculations by trigonometric relationships are needed. We demonstrate a complex conjugate artifact suppression of 27 dB obtained in swept-source optical coherence tomography using our unbalanced differential detection. We show that our unbalanced differential detection has increased the signal-to-noise ratio by at least 4 dB compared to the commonly used balanced detection technique. This is due to better utilization of optical power.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Interferometry / instrumentation*
  • Interferometry / methods
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Optics and Photonics*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / instrumentation*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence / methods