Polarized optical coherence imaging in turbid media by use of a Zeeman laser

A method that uses a Zeeman laser in conjunction with a Glan-Thompson analy zer to image an object in a turbid medium is proposed. A heterodyne signal is generated only when the scattering photons are partially polarized, and the spatial coherence is not seriously degraded after the signal propagates in the turbid medium. A system combining polarization discrimination with optical coherence detection to image the object in a scattering medium is s uccessfully demonstrated. The medium is a solution of polystyrene microsphe res measuring 1.072 mu m in diameter suspended in distilled water contained in a 10-mm-thick quartz cuvette. The advantages of this optical system, in cluding better selectivity of the weak partially polarized scattering photo ns and better imaging ability in higher-scattering media, are discussed. (C ) 2000 Optical Society of America OCIS codes: 170.1650, 170.0110, 170.7050, 170.3660, 170.3890, 170.4580.