Rapid chemically selective 3D imaging in the mid-infrared with a Si-based camera

TL;DR

This paper introduces a fast, chemically selective 3D imaging method in the mid-infrared spectrum using a silicon-based camera, overcoming traditional MIR detection challenges for rapid biological and material analysis.

Contribution

The authors demonstrate a novel MIR tomography technique utilizing femtosecond non-degenerate two-photon absorption in a silicon camera, enabling high-speed, wide-field 3D imaging with chemical specificity.

Findings

Achieved high-definition 3D MIR imaging in seconds

Enabled chemical selectivity in structured materials and biological samples

Demonstrated compatibility with conventional silicon CCD cameras

Abstract

The emerging technique of mid-infrared optical coherence tomography (MIR-OCT) takes advantage of the reduced scattering of MIR light in various materials and devices, enabling tomographic imaging at deeper penetration depths. Because of challenges in MIR detection technology, the image acquisition time is however significantly longer than for tomographic imaging methods in the visible/near-infrared. Here we demonstrate an alternative approach to MIR tomography with high-speed imaging capabilities. Through femtosecond non-degenerate two-photon absorption of MIR light in a conventional Si-based CCD camera, we achieve wide-field, high-definition tomographic imaging with chemical selectivity of structured materials and biological samples in mere seconds.