Multimodal probe for optical coherence tomography epidetection and micron-scale indentation

We present a multimodal ferrule-top sensor designed to perform the integrated epidetection of Optical Coberence Tomognphy(OCT)depth-profiles and micron-scale indentation by all-optical detection.By scarning a sample under the probe,we can obtain structural crosse soction images and identify a region of interest in a nonhomogencous sample.Then,with the same probe and setup,we can immediately target that area with a series of spherical indentation measurements,in which the applied load is known with aμN precision,the indentation depth with sub-/m precision and a maximum contact radius of 100 pm.Thanks to the visualization of the internal structure of the sample,we can gain a better insi ght into the observed mechanical behavior.The ability to impart a small,confined load,and perfomn OCT A scans at the same time,could lead to an altemative,high transverse resolution,Optical Coherence Elastography(OCE)sensor.