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Spectral domain OCT
The technique of spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) was first described by Fercher1 and is illustrated in Figure 1. Light from a source is split to a reference arm and a sample arm. Recombined light from both optical paths is reflected from a diffraction grating which spits the light into its spectral components which are subsequently detected in a linear detector array. Information of depth contained in the spectra is derived from a Fourier transform of the detected array signal - with the frequency of the original light source having been modulated by a time varying signal. The technique of SDOCT provides for an increase in signal detection of around two orders of magnitude compared with conventional TDOCT. Also, the reference arm in the basic interferometer does not require a scanning mechanism such as a moving mirror or ultrasonic compression of optical elements. This in turn significantly increases the speed at which scanning takes place.
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