Mid-infrared optical coherence tomography with MHz axial line rate for real-time non-destructive testing

Non-destructive testing (NDT) is crucial for ensuring product quality and safety across various industries. Conventional methods, such as ultrasonic, terahertz, and x-ray imaging, have limitations in terms of probe-contact requirement, depth resolution, or radiation risks. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a promising alternative to solve these limitations, but it suffers from strong scattering, limiting its penetration depth. Recently, OCT in the mid-infrared (MIR) spectral region has attracted attention with a significantly lower scattering rate than in the near-infrared region. However, the highest reported A-scan rate of MIR-OCT has been 3 kHz, which requires long data acquisition time to take an image, unsatisfying industrial demands for real-time diagnosis. Here, we present a high-speed MIR-OCT system operating in the 3–4 µm region that employs the frequency-swept spectrum detection in OCT technique based on time-stretch infrared spectroscopy. By integrating a broadband femtosecond MIR pulsed laser operating at a repetition rate of 50 MHz, we achieved an A-scan rate of 1 MHz with an axial resolution of 11.6 µm, a 10 dB roll-off depth of about 700 µm, and a sensitivity of 55 dB. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we imaged the surface of substrates covered by highly scattering paint coatings. The demonstrated A-scan rate surpasses previous state of the art by more than two orders of magnitude, paving the way for real-time NDT of industrial products, cultural assets, and structures.