Computational optical coherence tomography for polarization-sensitive imaging, aberration correction, and wavefront measurement

In this thesis, multiple longstanding challenges in optical imaging are solved by the development of new computational imaging methods, where computational imaging does not simply refer to simulation or modeling, but to the entirety of an imaging technology in which significant computation is required to achieve the final image. Of the many optical imaging technologies currently in use, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is distinctive in that it provides coherent measurement of optical scattering within bulk biological tissue. Unfortunately, the optical wavefront is often distorted by defocus and aberration, from either the imaging system or the sample itself, leading to poor image quality. Through a careful consideration of the optical theory and imaging hardware, computational imaging methods can correct these distortions through creative data acquisition and processing schemes. Here, new computational OCT methods are developed from theory to implementation to address three related challenges in optical imaging. First, computational OCT is extended to polarization-sensitive imaging. This provides the improved resolution and imaging depth of computational OCT with the enhanced contrast of polarization-sensitive imaging. Second, computational OCT is combined with hardware-based wavefront correction. This addresses the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) limitation of computational OCT and provides improved performance beyond that of hardware-only correction. Lastly, distortion of the optical wavefront is computationally measured directly from the OCT data. This enables both measurement and correction of the optical wavefront throughout biological samples without additional hardware. Together, these results demonstrate the usefulness of computational OCT across a broad range of important imaging scenarios in biology and medicine.U of I OnlyAuthor requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD syste