Abstract

A small and relatively inexpensive optoelectronic cross-correlator, using an avalanche photodiode (APD) detector and without any moving parts has been developed to measure the temporal point spread function (TPSF) of light in tissue. From the TPSF, it is in principle possible to determine the optical properties of the tissue. Currently a temporal response of 275 ps full width half maximum (FWHM) has been achieved. Measurements of the TPSF of a tissue phantom using a synchroscan streak camera and the cross-correlator show excellent agreement, although the achievable signal to noise ratio currently limits the ability of the cross-correlator to detect the low intensity sections of a TPSF.

© 1996 Optical Society of America