Single input state, single mode fiber based spectral domain polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography using a single linear-in-wavenumber spectral camera

A single input state, single mode fiber (SMF) based spectral domain polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (SD-PS-OCT) system using a single linear-in-wavenumber spectral camera is presented. With the proposed dual channel linear-in-wavenumber spectral camera and the polarization alignment procedure, the orthogonal polarization components of the spectral interference signal can be detected using the all SMF based SD-PS-OCT system without any bulk polarization optical elements. To evaluate the performance of the developed system, the polarization properties of a Babinet-Soleil compensator and a quarter waveplate are quantitatively measured with high accuracy. Furthermore, the depth-resolved images of the intensity, the phase retardation and the optic axis 'orientation of the ex-vivo tendon tissue and the chicken muscle tissue are reconstructed to verify the feasibility of the proposed method.