Ultrahigh-resolution full-field optical coherence tomography using spatial coherence gating and quasi-monochromatic illumination

We developed an ultrahigh-resolution full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) microscope that is based on the spatial, rather than the temporal, coherence gating. The microscope is capable of observing three-dimensional microbiological structures as small as 0.4 mu m x 0.4 mu m x 1.0 mu m (xyz) using quasi-monochromatic light and a liquid crystal retarder. Unlike traditional FF-OCT systems, this microscope can be operated in high resolution for any preferable wavelength with minimized defocusing and dispersion effects. High-resolution images of an onion cell are presented. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America