Abstract
We present a detection method based on optical parametric amplification to amplify and detect near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging signals. A periodically poled lithium niobate crystal is employed as an optical parametric amplifier (OPA), which provides excellent quasi-phase-matching conditions for the optical parametric amplification process. A weak reflectance imaging signal at 1465 nm is amplified by the OPA with a high gain of up to 92 dB, and the amplified optical signal is detected with a low-cost photodetector under ambient light conditions. Such a high gain leads to a detection limit of 23 pW under a 5 MHz detection bandwidth, which is remarkably lower than the theoretical value of a NIR photomultiplier tube (PMT). By exploiting the advantages of the OPA, the incident power needed for microscopy or imaging is reduced by 40–60 dB. The high imaging gain of the OPA also significantly enhances the imaging penetration depth by selectively detecting the weak signal reflected from deep tissue structures. The successful implementation of the OPA enables a robust and sensitive detection method that offers the potential to replace PMTs in imaging applications within the NIR spectral range.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4391-4394 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Optics Letters |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2019 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Cite this
Detection of weak near-infrared optical imaging signals under ambient light by optical parametric amplification. / Sun, Yi; Tu, Haohua; You, Sixian; Zhang, Chi; Liu, Yuan Zhi; Boppart, Stephen A.
In: Optics Letters, Vol. 44, No. 17, 01.09.2019, p. 4391-4394.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection of weak near-infrared optical imaging signals under ambient light by optical parametric amplification
AU - Sun, Yi
AU - Tu, Haohua
AU - You, Sixian
AU - Zhang, Chi
AU - Liu, Yuan Zhi
AU - Boppart, Stephen A.
PY - 2019/9/1
Y1 - 2019/9/1
N2 - We present a detection method based on optical parametric amplification to amplify and detect near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging signals. A periodically poled lithium niobate crystal is employed as an optical parametric amplifier (OPA), which provides excellent quasi-phase-matching conditions for the optical parametric amplification process. A weak reflectance imaging signal at 1465 nm is amplified by the OPA with a high gain of up to 92 dB, and the amplified optical signal is detected with a low-cost photodetector under ambient light conditions. Such a high gain leads to a detection limit of 23 pW under a 5 MHz detection bandwidth, which is remarkably lower than the theoretical value of a NIR photomultiplier tube (PMT). By exploiting the advantages of the OPA, the incident power needed for microscopy or imaging is reduced by 40–60 dB. The high imaging gain of the OPA also significantly enhances the imaging penetration depth by selectively detecting the weak signal reflected from deep tissue structures. The successful implementation of the OPA enables a robust and sensitive detection method that offers the potential to replace PMTs in imaging applications within the NIR spectral range.
AB - We present a detection method based on optical parametric amplification to amplify and detect near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging signals. A periodically poled lithium niobate crystal is employed as an optical parametric amplifier (OPA), which provides excellent quasi-phase-matching conditions for the optical parametric amplification process. A weak reflectance imaging signal at 1465 nm is amplified by the OPA with a high gain of up to 92 dB, and the amplified optical signal is detected with a low-cost photodetector under ambient light conditions. Such a high gain leads to a detection limit of 23 pW under a 5 MHz detection bandwidth, which is remarkably lower than the theoretical value of a NIR photomultiplier tube (PMT). By exploiting the advantages of the OPA, the incident power needed for microscopy or imaging is reduced by 40–60 dB. The high imaging gain of the OPA also significantly enhances the imaging penetration depth by selectively detecting the weak signal reflected from deep tissue structures. The successful implementation of the OPA enables a robust and sensitive detection method that offers the potential to replace PMTs in imaging applications within the NIR spectral range.
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U2 - 10.1364/OL.44.004391
DO - 10.1364/OL.44.004391
M3 - Article
C2 - 31465409
AN - SCOPUS:85071397558
VL - 44
SP - 4391
EP - 4394
JO - Optics Letters
JF - Optics Letters
SN - 0146-9592
IS - 17
ER -