Phase and amplitude optimization in an optical coherence tomography system using a programmable spectral filter

We demonstrate the use of a programmable optical spectral filter to compensate all orders of chromatic dispersion in an all-fibre Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography system at 1550 nm. The point-spread-function, originally 58 μm wide, asymmetric, with strong sidelobes, is successfully made symmetric and recompressed to 38 μm, close to the theoretical limit of 36 μm.