Laser scanning spiral modalities: mathematical aspects

Spiral scanning is an emergent laser scanning modality, with applications in biomedical imaging, including microscopy, OCT, and ophthalmic surgery. This modality offers higher scanning velocities and similar optical resolutions compared to the common raster scanning. Also, it achieves distortion-free images in circular fields of view. The present study explores through simulations relationships between characteristics that describe the spiral scanning, including the scan frequency, the number of spirals generated, and the shape-defining parameters: a, b, the pitch, and the distances between two consecutive spires. Their influence on the optical performance metrics is explored. These parameters are studied for several spirals: Archimedean, Fermat, and constant linear velocity. Others are pointed out: constant angular velocity, logarithmic spiral, αβ circular, and the Cornu spiral (the latter in the context of adaptive optics).