LIGHT SOURCE, AND OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY MODULE

摘要

According to an aspect of the invention, a swept wavelength light source is provided, the light source comprising: - a semiconductor gain device operable to provide amplification, - an optical retarding device, the retarding device comprising a block of material, a beam path with a well-defined beam path length being defined for light within the block of material produced by the gain device, - a wavelength selector, and - the gain device, the retarding device and wavelength selector being mutually arranged on the base so that a resonator is established for light portions emitted by the gain device and selected by wavelength selector; this does not exclude the presence of further elements contributing to the resonator, such as additional mirrors (including resonator end mirrors), lenses, polarization selective elements, other passive optical components, etc.; - wherein the beam path in the retarding device is a part of a beam path of the resonator.