Ultrahigh-resolution OCT using continuum generation in an air-silica microstructure optical fiber

We demonstrate ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography using the continuum generation in an air-silica microstructure fiber. A broadband OCT system was developed, supporting a bandwidth of 370 nm at 1.3 micrometers center wavelength. We achieved longitudinal resolutions of 2.5 micrometers in air, or ~2 micrometers in tissue. This is to our knowledge with the highest longitudinal OCT resolution demonstrated at this wavelength range and the first application of this new light source for OCT. We will also describe the application of this technique for imaging biological tissue in vivo.