All-fiber CW Raman continuum light source for ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography

Abstract

High performance, short coherence length light sources with broad bandwidths and high output powers are critical for high speed, ultrahigh resolution OCT imaging. We demonstrate an all-fiber continuous-wave Raman light source based on a photonic crystal fiber, pumped by a continuous-wave Yb-fiber laser, which generates 330 mW output power and 140 nm bandwidths. The light source is compact, robust, turnkey and requires no optical alignment. In vivo high speed, ultrahigh resolution OCT imaging of tissues with < 5 &#956;m axial resolution at 1.3 &#956;m center wavelength is demonstrated.