Polarization Maintaining Buffered Fourier Domain Mode-Locked Swept Source

A polarization maintaining buffered Fourier domain mode-locked (FDML) swept source at center wavelength of 1310 nm for multiplying the scanning rate of FDML swept source was demonstrated. The scanning rate of the buffered FDML swept source was doubled without sacrificing the output power of the swept source by combining two orthogonally polarized outputs with a polarization beam combiner (PBC). The stability of the swept source was improved significantly because the polarization state of the laser beam inside the cavity is maintained without any polarization controllers. With the linear polarization states of the output laser beam, the buffered FDML swept source is also ready to be used in a PSOCT system. The swept source is capable of a tuning range of more than 150 nm at a 102 kHz sweeping rate. An FDOCT system was developed with the built swept source.