Optical coherence tomography- a non-invasive technique applied to conservation of paintings

Liang, H. ORCID: 0000-0001-9496-406X, Cid, M.G., Cucu, R.G., Dobre, G.M., Kudimov, B., Pedro, J., Saunders, D., Cupitt, J. and Podoleanu, A.G., 2005. Optical coherence tomography- a non-invasive technique applied to conservation of paintings. . ISSN 0277-786X

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Abstract

It is current practice to take tiny samples from a painting to mount and examine in cross-section under a microscope. However, since conservation practice and ethics limit sampling to a minimum and to areas along cracks and edges of paintings, which are often unrepresentative of the whole painting, results from such analyses cannot be taken as representative of a painting as a whole. Recently in a preliminary study, we have demonstrated that near-infrared Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) can be used directly on paintings to examine the cross-section of paint and varnish layers without contact and the need to take samples. OCT is an optical interferometric technique developed for in vivo imaging of the eye and biological tissues; it is essentially a scanning Michelson’s interferometer with a ‘broadband’ source that has the spatial coherence of a laser. The low temporal coherence and high spatial concentration of the source are the keys to high depth resolution and high sensitivity 3D imaging. The technique is non-invasive and noncontact with a typical working distance of 2 cm. This non-invasive technique enables cross-sections to be examined anywhere on a painting. In this paper, we will report new results on applying near-infrared en-face OCT to paintings conservation and extend the application to the examination of underdrawings, drying processes, and quantitative measurements of optical properties of paint and varnish layers.

Item Type:	Journal article
Creators:	Liang, H., Cid, M.G., Cucu, R.G., Dobre, G.M., Kudimov, B., Pedro, J., Saunders, D., Cupitt, J. and Podoleanu, A.G.
Publisher:	SPIE
Date:	2005
Volume:	5857
ISSN:	0277-786X
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1117/12.612591 DOI
Rights:	Copyright © 2005 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	EPrints Services
Date Added:	09 Oct 2015 10:55
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2017 13:44
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/20207

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