Synthesized optical coherence tomography for imaging of scattering objects by use of a stepwise frequency-modulated tunable laser diode.

A technique named synthesized optical coherence tomography (SOCT) has been proposed and developed as an alternative method to the well-known optical coherence tomography for cross-sectional imaging of scattering objects. SOCT is based on the principle of synthesis of an optical coherence function by use of a tunable laser diode. With stepwise frequency modulation of light and synchronous phase modulation, the coherence function is synthesized into a peak at an arbitrary location. The longitudinal scattering distribution of the object under test is thus obtained without a mechanically driven reference. Two-dimensional tomography was demonstrated in a basic experiment with a lateral mechanical scan.