SINGLE-MODE OPTICAL FIBER-BASED ANGLE-RESOLVED LOW COHERENCE INTERFEROMETRIC (LCI)(A/LCI) AND NON-INTERFEROMETRIC SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

Optical fiber-based angle-resolved low coherence interferometric systems and methods are disclosed for imaging of scattering samples and measurement of optical and structural properties. A single-mode collection optical fiber can be employed and scanned to collect an angular scattering distribution of scattered light from the sample. Use of a single-mode collection optical fiber can reduce cost, increase signal accuracy, and provide compatibility with optical coherence tomography systems, as examples. In certain embodiments, collected angular scatterings of light from the sample are cross-correlated with a reference signal to provide an angular scattering distribution of scattering of light from the sample. The angular scattering distribution can be spectrally dispersed to yield an angle-resolved, spectrally-resolved cross-correlation profile having depth-resolved information about the sample at the scattering angles. The angle-resolved, spectrally-resolved cross-correlation profile can be analyzed to provide size and/or depth information about the sample. The systems and methods can also be employed in non-interferometric modes.