Compact, broad-bandwidth fiber laser for sub-2-µm axial resolution optical coherence tomography in the 1300-nm wavelength region

A novel, compact, user friendly fiber laser with a broad emission bandwidth (MenloSystems, λc=1375 nm, Δλ=470 nm, Pout=4 mW) was used to achieve unprecedented sub-2-µm axial resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) in nontransparent biological tissue in the 1300-nm wavelength region. Fresh human skin and arterial biopsies were imaged ex vivo with ∼1.4‐µm axial and ∼3‐µm lateral resolution and 95-dB sensitivity, demonstrating the great potential for clinical OCT applications of this stable, low-cost, and turn-on-key fiber laser.