Jones matrix based polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Polarization–sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS–OCT) is an extension of OCT and is capable of measuring the polarization properties of biological tissues, such as phase retardation, diattenuation, and optic–axis orientation. It is known that several types of biological tissues possess microscopic fibrous structures including collagen fibers and nerve fibers. Since these microscopic structures are smaller than the resolution of OCT, standard OCT is not capable of assessing them. However, these microscopic structures are known to possess birefringence, and PS–OCT is capable of assessing these microscopic tissue properties by measuring its polarization property.