Open AccessMiniature all-fiber axicon probe with extended Bessel focus for optical coherence tomography
Author(s) -
Wei Wang,
Guangying Wang,
Jun Ma,
Lei Cheng,
BaiOu Guan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.000358
Subject(s) - axicon , optical coherence tomography , optics , lens (geology) , materials science , focus (optics) , optical fiber , depth of focus (tectonics) , bessel beam , fiber , beam (structure) , physics , laser beams , laser , geology , paleontology , subduction , tectonics , composite material
The trade-off between lateral resolution and depth of focus (DOF) severely limits the capability of endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) for high-resolution deep-tissue imaging. To address this issue, we developed a novel miniature all-fiber axicon OCT probe by inserting a segment of gradient-index (GRIN) fiber between a piece of single-mode fiber (SMF) and an axicon polished from a no-core fiber. The GRIN lens served as a beam expander extending the probe DOF by 5.2 times while maintaining a high lateral resolution of 2 μm. The DOF extension was experimentally verified by measuring the axial profile of the probe output beam and further by imaging multilayered polymer tapes and onion samples. The designed probe with a tight focus over a large DOF holds great potential in endoscopic OCT imaging of deep tissues at the cellular level.