Search

Novel types of supercontinuum sources radiating in the infrared (IR) spectral region provide ultra-broadband spectral coverage and maintain distinctive laser-like properties of emission such as brightness, spatial coherence and high power. Being a perfectly suitable light source for mid-infrared optical coherence tomography (OCT) and spectroscopy, supercontinuum sources initiated a significant amount of recent developments in these fields and promise to be a gamechanging factor in the nearest future. In this paper, we exhibit a simple, optimized and relatively cost-effective system operating in near and mid-infrared ranges and combining OCT and co-registered IR spectroscopy. The performance of the OCT modality of the setup is evaluated with respect to the sensitivity and roll-off. Due to reduced scattering inherited with the new spectral window, we achieve the enhancement in the penetration depth in artificial paintings, ceramics and pottery. Furthermore, the hyperspectral data is used to supplement structural information and access to the chemical composition of the sample. The gained results reveal the potential of the multimodal system for non-destructive testing, art and cultural objects diagnosis.

The emergence of new laser-based mid-infrared (MIR) sources, such as quantum cascade lasers (QCL), led to substantial developments in the field of MIR spectroscopy in the last decade. Recently, also MIR supercontinuum (SC) sources became available. They combine broadband spectral emission known from thermal sources emission with coherent properties known from laser sources like QCLs. Nevertheless, while the latter already find practical application in the field of optical sensing, SC sources have yet to prove their applicability. In this contribution we present the development, characterization and application of a measurement concept consisting of a fiber-coupled broadband MIR SC source (1.75 μm-4.2 μm, 75 mW optical power) and a fully-integrated MOEMS-based Fabry-Perot microspectrometer (FPMS) for MIR spectroscopy. The main hindrance for the use of SC sources in spectroscopy so far, are the significant pulse-to-pulse fluctuations arising from the non-linear nature of the SC generation process. We show to what extent spectral averaging makes sense and evaluate the noise performance. By combining a SC source and a FPMS it was possible to significantly reduce noise in spectral, time and polarization domain, resulting in a set-up suitable for MIR spectroscopy. The performance of the set-up was characterized both in transmission and reflection geometry. Low-noise absorption spectra of oils, polymers and aqueous solutions of acetic acid were acquired . Furthermore, time-resolved measurements of the curing process of ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate and results of the chemical mapping of a painted metal surface are reported. The obtained results prove the concept of SC-FPMS promising for MIR spectroscopy, characterized by its simplicity and versatility.

We present a multimodal optical setup, allowing non-contact photoacoustic imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and non-contact mid-infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy. Photoacoustic signals are generated using a Nd:YAG laser and a tunable quantum cascade laser for photoacoustic imaging and spectroscopy, respectively. Photoacoustic signals are acquired by measuring the surface displacement of a specimen using a fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer. In the same fiber-optic network a spectral-domain OCT system is realized. Light from the photoacoustic detection laser and the OCT source are multiplexed into one fiber and the same objective is used for both imaging modalities. Light reflected from specimens is demultiplexed and guided to the respective imaging systems. To allow fast non-contact PAI and OCT imaging the detection spot is scanned across the specimens’ surface using a galvanometer scanner. As the same fiber-network and optical components are used for photoacoustic and OCT imaging the obtained images are co-registered intrinsically. Imaging is demonstrated on tissue mimicking and biological samples; spectral information is obtained for polystyrene and hemoglobin.

We present a silicon (Si) based infrared (IR) absorption sensor which is suitable for integration into a miniaturized sensor system. The sensor is designed to operate in the wavelength region around λ=5 μm. We particularly discuss the design, the modeling and the optical characterization of the used materials. The sensor operates as a singlemode Si waveguide (WG) on low refractive index Si 3 N 4 membrane. The single-mode requirement for the WG is needed to avoid losses due to imperfections on the WG walls causing redistribution of the carried energy among the different modes. The waveguide interacts with the sample by means of the evanescent field which extends into the sample. This sensor configuration is not only compatible to the Si technology, but can also be realized on a single chip. In addition, the principle of operation is not limited to a single wavelength: by changing the waveguide dimensions, it can be applied to a broad spectral range. Thus, by its dimensions, performance and Si-compatibility, the sensor is expected to overcome previously published device concepts. The single-mode requirements lead to WG dimensions of 2 μm width x 600 nm height for an operation at λ=5 μm, which are verified by 3D simulations. For those parameters, the WG will support one transverse electric (TE) mode and one transverse magnetic (TM) mode. Efficient guidance is only obtained for the fundamental TE and TM modes. As an example, it is shown that mode TE1 is a non-guided mode. The experimentally obtained WG dimensions are 605 nm height and 2 μm width. In our paper we discuss issues with the design, the material characterization and first experimental results obtained with the recently fabricated prototypes.