Computationally image-corrected dual-comb microscopy with a free-running single-cavity dual-comb fiber laser

TL;DR

This paper introduces a low-complexity, free-running dual-comb fiber laser for microscopy, using computational correction to achieve high-precision imaging without the need for complex stabilized sources.

Contribution

It presents a novel single-cavity dual-comb fiber laser system combined with computational image correction to simplify dual-comb microscopy and improve its practicality.

Findings

Achieved nanometer-order surface profilometry with 14.0 nm uncertainty

Reduced image blur through computational correction of residual jitter

Enhanced versatility and practicality of dual-comb microscopy

Abstract

Dual-comb microscopy (DCM), an interesting imaging modality based on the optical-frequency-comb (OFC) mode and image pixel one-to-one correspondence, benefits from scan-less full-field imaging and simultaneous confocal amplitude and phase imaging. However, the two fully frequency-stabilized OFC sources requirement hampers DCM practicality due to the complexity and costs. Here, a bidirectional single-cavity dual-comb fiber laser (SCDCFL) is adopted as a DCM low-complexity OFC source. Computational image correction reduces the image blur caused by the SCDCFL residual timing jitter. Nanometer-order step surface profilometry with a 14.0 nm uncertainty highlights the image-corrected DCM effectiveness. The proposed method enhances the DCM versality and practicality.