Title :
Tuning Superluminescent Diode Characteristics for Optical Coherence Tomography Systems by Utilizing a Multicontact Device Incorporating Wavelength-Modulated Quantum Dots
Author :
Greenwood, Purnima D L ; Childs, David T D ; Groom, Kristian M. ; Stevens, Benjamin J. ; Hopkinson, Mark ; Hogg, Richard A.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electron. & Electr. Eng., Univ. of Sheffield, Sheffield
Abstract :
This paper details the development of broadband sources at 1050 nm for optical coherence tomography applications. A method for obtaining a broad and smooth emission and gain spectrum for 1050 nm quantum dot (QD) layers is presented. The design, fabrication, and operating characteristics of multicontact superluminescent diodes are then set out, and the operating characteristics of this device, incorporating the broadband QD material, are described. It is shown that this device allows the tuning of the emission spectrum peak position, peak shape, emission bandwidth, and power, which are advantageous for imaging applications. A simplified device, utilizing a single current source, is achieved by incorporating a resistor network. The operation of the multicontact device under various drive topologies is discussed.
Keywords :
biomedical optical imaging; light sources; optical design techniques; optical fabrication; optical modulation; optical tomography; quantum dots; superluminescent diodes; OCT; broadband source; current source; drive topology; emission spectrum; medical imaging; multicontact device fabrication; optical coherence tomography system; resistor network; superluminescent diode characteristics; wavelength 1050 nm; wavelength-modulated quantum dot; Optical coherence tomography (OCT); quantum dot (QD); superluminescent diode;
Journal_Title :
Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
DOI :
10.1109/JSTQE.2009.2013481
