Determination of the depth-resolved Stokes parameters of light backscattered from turbid media by use of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1999 · Optics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.24.000300· OSTI ID:321489

de Boer, J F ^[1]; Milner, T E ^[2]; Nelson, J S ^[1]

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1. Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92612 (United States)
2. Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)

Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) was used to characterize completely the polarization state of light backscattered from turbid media. Using a low-coherence light source, one can determine the Stokes parameters of backscattered light as a function of optical path in turbid media. To demonstrate the application of this technique we determined the birefringence and the optical axis in fibrous tissue (rodent muscle) and {ital inthinspthinspvivo} rodent skin. PS-OCT has potentially useful applications in biomedical optics by imaging simultaneously the structural properties of turbid biological materials and their effects on the polarization state of backscattered light. This method may also find applications in material science for investigation of polarization properties (e.g., birefringence) in opaque media such as ceramics and crystals. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital Optical Society of America}

• OSTI ID: 321489
• Journal Information: Optics Letters, Vol. 24, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
TURBIDITY
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
TOMOGRAPHY
LIGHT SCATTERING
POLARIZATION
STOKES PARAMETERS