Wang Hui author Fleming Christine P. author Columbia University. Electrical Engineering Rollins Andrew M. author Columbia University. Electrical Engineering originator text Articles 2007 English We report a broad-band continuum light source with high power, low noise and a smooth spectrum centered at 1.15 μm for ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT). The continuum is generated by self-phase modulation using a compact 1.059 μm femtosecond laser pumping a novel photonic crystal fiber, which has a convex dispersion profile with no zero dispersion wavelengths. The emission spectrum is red-shifted from the pump wavelength, ranges from 800 to 1300 nm and results in a measured axial resolution of ~2.8 μm in air. We demonstrate ultrahigh-resolution OCT imaging of biological tissue using this light source. The results suggest PCF with this type of dispersion profile is advantageous for generating SC as a light source for ultrahigh-resolution OCT. Optics 15 6 3085 3092 2007-03-19 http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.003085 http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:14905 NNC NNC 2012-10-11 16:21:37 -0400 2012-10-11 16:29:29 -0400 8909 eng