Microscopic spectral imaging using mid-infrared semiconductor lasers

Bujin -P. Guo; Yi Wang; Chuan Peng; Guipeng Luo; Han Q. Le

doi:10.1117/12.477942

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2 July 2003 Microscopic spectral imaging using mid-infrared semiconductor lasers

Bujin -P. Guo, Yi Wang, Chuan Peng, Guipeng Luo, Han Q. Le

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Proceedings Volume 4959, Spectral Imaging: Instrumentation, Applications, and Analysis II; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.477942
Event: Biomedical Optics, 2003, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Infrared micro-spectroscopy is a useful tool for basic research and biomedical applications. Conventional microspectroscopic imaging apparatuses use thermal sources for sample illumination, which have low brightness, low optical spectral intensity, and high noise. This work evaluates the system engineering advantages of using mid-infrared semiconductor lasers that offer orders-of magnitude higher brightness, spectral intensity, and lower noise. A laser-based microscopic spectral imaging system with focal plane array detectors demonstrated a high signal-to-noise ratio (>20 dB) at video frame rate for a large illuminated area. Microscopic spectral imaging with fixed-wavelength and tunable lasers of 4.6, 6, and 9.3-μm wavelength was applied to a number of representative samples that consist of biological tissues (plant and animal) and solid material (a stack of laminated polymers). Transmission spectral images with ~30-dB dynamic range were obtained with clear evidence of spectral features for different samples. The potential of more advanced systems with a wide coverage of spectral bands is discussed.

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Bujin -P. Guo, Yi Wang, Chuan Peng, Guipeng Luo, and Han Q. Le "Microscopic spectral imaging using mid-infrared semiconductor lasers", Proc. SPIE 4959, Spectral Imaging: Instrumentation, Applications, and Analysis II, (2 July 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.477942

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