A new technique for optical coherence tomography imaging with spatially low
-coherent light sources is presented. In this technique the low coherence i
nterferometry (LCI) depth-scan is performed by the image of the light sourc
e, and, therefore, simultaneously by a multitude of mutually incoherent LCI
channels, to increase the probe beam power. Thermal light sources have the
advantage of extremely low time-coherence with coherence lengths in the 1
mum range. The performance of a tungsten halogen lamp with a thermal spectr
um and a xenon are lamp with broadened spectral lines superimposed on a the
rmal continuum are compared. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese
rved.