Polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography using multiple polarization sensitive semiconductor optical amplifiers

US10480924B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · US

Inventors

• Hui Wang · Beachwood, US
• Andrew M. Rollins · Bedford, US
• Xiaoyong Fu · Plano, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 1, 2018
• Grant date: Nov 19, 2019
• Expiry date: Feb 1, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an OCT apparatus configured to generate to electromagnetic (e.g., optical) signals having two different polarization states. Two or more silicon optical amplifiers (SOAs) can be configured to maintain a respective polarization state in an optical input signal provided from a light source (e.g., a broadband light source). The different polarization states can be combined by an optical combiner (e.g., a polarization maintaining fiber coupler) and provided to drive a reference arm and a sample arm implemented in an OCT system.