KohärenzScan

KohärenzScan is a coherent-contrast imaging technique designed to map structural and functional properties of samples by interrogating how coherence is preserved or disrupted across a scanned field. It combines elements of interferometry with high-density spatial sampling to generate quantitative maps of optical or mechanical properties.

The method uses a coherent or partially coherent light source that is split into reference and sample arms. As the beam probes the region of interest, interference patterns are recorded while the scanner moves across the sample. Analysis focuses on visibility, phase, and decorrelation of the interference signal, enabling reconstruction of depth-resolved or surface-conforming maps. Data are processed with Fourier-domain or inverse-problem techniques to yield multi-dimensional images.

Methodology and outputs: KohärenzScan typically produces two- or three-dimensional maps showing parameters such as scattering strength, refractive index distribution, or relative stiffness. The approach emphasizes phase stability, motion compensation, and low-light performance to allow safe in vivo or in situ measurements.

Applications: In medicine, it supports ophthalmology and dermatology, and in materials science it aids nondestructive testing of composites and coatings. The technique seeks real-time imaging with sub-millimeter resolution and quantitative contrast.

Comparison and limitations: Compared with standard optical coherence tomography, KohärenzScan extends to coherence-contrast measurements that reveal microstructural coherence. Limitations include limited penetration in highly scattering media, sensitivity to motion, and the need for sophisticated hardware and processing.

History: The concept emerged in the early 2020s, with demonstrators published in physics and biomedical engineering venues. Ongoing work focuses on robust reconstruction and portable systems.

See also: Optical coherence tomography, interferometric imaging, coherence tomography.