Optical imaging for specimens having dispersive properties
First Claim
1. A system for performing optical imaging measurements on a specimen having dispersive properties resulting in phase changes in optical signals applied thereto, the system comprising:
- means for generating a coherent, amplitude modulated optical signal having a selected initial amplitude and phase, the amplitude modulation being at a wavelength which is much longer than said phase changes;
means for passing said signal through the specimen to obtain an optical output signal, which output signal has a scatter component;
means for filtering said optical output signal to selectively eliminate said scatter component;
a detector positioned to receive the output from the means for filtering and to generate an electrical output in response thereto;
means for stripping the amplitude modulation from the detector output; and
means for comparing the phase of an amplitude modulation output from the means for stripping with the corresponding selected initial phase to obtain imaging data for said specimen.
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Abstract
A system for optically imaging a specimen is provided, which system amplitude modulates an optical signal with a longer wavelength signal, and in particular a signal having a wavelength which is much longer than any dispersive phase shift in the sample. The modulated optical signal is passed through the specimen. Scattered radiation in the optical output from the sample is filtered out and the resulting optical signal is detected and processed to obtain amplitude/absorption and phase/dispersion information, which information may be used in imaging. Optical signals at different frequencies may be passed through the same sample of the specimen to obtain additional information.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for performing optical imaging measurements on a specimen having dispersive properties resulting in phase changes in optical signals applied thereto, the system comprising:
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means for generating a coherent, amplitude modulated optical signal having a selected initial amplitude and phase, the amplitude modulation being at a wavelength which is much longer than said phase changes; means for passing said signal through the specimen to obtain an optical output signal, which output signal has a scatter component; means for filtering said optical output signal to selectively eliminate said scatter component; a detector positioned to receive the output from the means for filtering and to generate an electrical output in response thereto; means for stripping the amplitude modulation from the detector output; and means for comparing the phase of an amplitude modulation output from the means for stripping with the corresponding selected initial phase to obtain imaging data for said specimen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification