Analysis of key parameters in MWP-LCI systems

Low coherence interferometry (LCI) is a well-known measurement technique able to provide an axial precision in the order of the microns. Its application to a wide variety of fields like medicine has attracted the interest of many authors mainly due to its non-invasive characteristic. By combining LCI and microwave photonics (MWP), we take profit from the inherent stability that the RF domain offers to improve the general performance of key parameters. In this paper, an analysis of key parameters in a MWP-LCI structure is carried out. The main target is to demonstrate the feasibility of a LCI system by means of MWP technology featuring unique properties beyond the current state of the art. The analysed scheme is able to obtain the optical path difference (OPD) related to a sample by retrieving the low-coherence interferogram in the RF domain. Moreover, we provide an accurate definition of resolution for MWP-LCI based system, which is closely related to the shape of the optical source profile employed. Finally, experimental demonstration of the analysis carried out in this work is also attached.