TDOCT with Optical Delay Line based on Static Helicoid Mirror

Abstract

In this work, we described a design of Optical Delay Line (ODL) for Time Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (TDOCT). ODL is based on a static helicoid mirror, integrated with an optical deflector. The delay line can provide up to 10 mm scanning depth range, thanks to its multi-pass configuration. The TDOCT system has been analyzed and optimized to operate in ultrahigh depth resolution regime. The estimated sensitivity of the TDOCT, at the presence of the relatively high level of the photon excess noise, can be of the order of -94 dB.