Ce3+:YAG double-clad crystal-fiber-based optical coherence tomography on fish cornea.

A Ce(3+):YAG double-clad crystal fiber (DCF) visible emission was used as the light source for optical coherence tomography (OCT). The visible emission was produced from a 10 microm core DCF pumped by a diode laser. The broadband emission and short central wavelength of this light source enabled the realization of 1.5 microm axial resolution in air. The relatively clean spectrum reduced the side lobe of its point-spread function, and therefore facilitated the generation of a high-quality image with less crosstalk between adjacent image pixels. As a demonstration, an Aplocheilus lineatus goldfish was experimented on to map out the stroma of its cornea. This visible-light-based OCT can be utilized for industrial inspection as well as ocular applications.