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Abstract
Collagen possesses a strong second-order nonlinear susceptibility, a nonlinear optical
property characterized by second harmonic generation in the presence of intense laser
beams. We present a new technique involving polarization modulation of an ultra-short
pulse laser beam that can simultaneously determine collagen fiber orientation and
a parameter related to the second-order nonlinear susceptibility. We demonstrate the
ability to discriminate among different patterns of fibrillar orientation, as exemplified
by tendon, fascia, cornea, and successive lamellar rings in an intervertebral disc.
Fiber orientation can be measured as a function of depth with an axial resolution
of approximately 10 microm. The parameter related to the second-order nonlinear susceptibility
is sensitive to fiber disorganization, oblique incidence of the beam on the sample,
and birefringence of the tissue. This parameter represents an aggregate measure of
tissue optical properties that could potentially be used for optical imaging in vivo.