Reed microstructure detection by optical coherence tomography, an efficient and non-invasive method

Abstract

Woodwind instrument reeds are commonly made from Arundo donax Linn (ADL) material. The mechanical properties of ADL significantly influence the acoustic behavior of the reed, thereby affecting the instrument’s overall performance. Current investigations into the internal microstructure of reeds are primarily conducted through optical microscopy, a method that involves cutting open the sample and observing its morphological features, thereby causing irreversible damage to the specimen. To address this issue, we employed optical coherence tomography (OCT) to examine the interior microstructure of reeds in both two and three dimensions, thus providing a non-invasive and real-time technique for characterizing reeds. The optical data gathered through backscattering is used to reveal microstructural variations and determine the reed’s lifespan. Our findings indicate that, with increasing degrees of vibratory load excitation, the microstructure of the vessel wall degrades while the width of the vessel lumen appears to expand. Over extended periods of usage, the backscattered signal intensity of the parenchymal tissue diminishes. Additionally, the 3D imaging capabilities of OCT can be employed to rapidly establish the spatial volume of defects within the reed. In light of these results, optical coherence tomography shows its promise as a powerful, real-time, and noninvasive technique for the identification of reeds.