Complex ambiguity-free Fourier domain optical coherence tomography through transverse scanning

We introduce a simple and cheap method for phase-shifting Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FDOCT) that does not need additional devices and can easily be implemented. A small beam offset at the fast beam-scanning mirror introduces a causal phase shift, which can be used for B-scan-based complex image reconstruction. We derive the conditions for optimal conjugate suppression and demonstrate the method on human skin in vivo for spectrometer-based FDOCT operating at 1300 nm employing a handheld scanner. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.