Real-time optical reflectometry enabled by amplified dispersive Fourier transformation

The axial scan rate of optical frequency-domain reflectometry and optical coherence tomography can be increased to megahertz frequencies by dispersive Fourier transformation. However, the fundamental connection between dispersion and loss creates a trade-off between detection sensitivity and acquisition speed. Here we circumvent this predicament by using distributed Raman postamplification of the reflection from the sample. The Raman amplification enables measurement of weak signals, which are otherwise buried in detector noise. It extends the depth range without sacrificing the acquisition speed. Single-shot imaging with improved sensitivity at an axial scan rate of 36.6 MHz is demonstrated. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.