Ray Tracing Simulation of Optical Coherence Tomography to Study Subnanometre Expansion of Active Neurons

Abstract

It has long been know that when neurons transmit a signal, they expand slightly. The mechanisms behind this are however not yet understood. In an effort to learn more about the functioning of neurons, we want to observe the neurons them and record the expansion in real time. The expansion is around the size of a nanometre, and the signal only takes milliseconds to pass. In addition, the method of observation must not harm the neuron as they must be alive to transmit signals. Optical coherence tomography is has many properties that make it ideal for this task. But the downside of standard OCT it that it has a resolution of micrometres, not nanometres as required. In this Thesis I perform simulations of the OCT process based on ray tracing and show that it is possible to extract these subnanometre diameter changes in the ideal scenario.