We consider the mechanism of speckle patterns formation in time-domain and swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT), and introduce a Monte Carlo based model for simulating OCT signals and images. The model takes into account polarization and coherent properties of light, mutual interference of the back-scattering light, and its interference with the reference beam. The developed model is employed to generate OCT images, and to analyze the resultant OCT speckle pattern properties. The model simulation results are compared with experimental measurements, and an interpretation of the speckle patterns formation in terms of its underlying physics is provided.
|