An Optical Coherence Tomography, OCT, receiver that receives a sample beam and a reference beam and combines the sample beam and the reference beam into an interference beam, the OCT receiver comprising: first and second prisms aligned with each other, a first face of the first prism adjacent to a first face of the second prism , the first prism arranged to receive one of the sample beam or the reference beam, and the second prism arranged to receive the other of the sample beam or the reference beam, the interference beam created and split into a first interference beam (B) and a second interference beam (C) where the first face of the first prism and the first face of the second prism meet; first and second polarizing beam splitters aligned with each other, the first and second polarizing beam splitters arranged adjacent to the first prism , the first and second polarizing beam splitters arranged to split the first interference beam (B) into first and second polarization states (BP, BS); a delay path arranged adjacent to the second polarizing beam splitter, the delay path configured to receive the second interference beam (C); third and fourth polarizing beam splitters arranged adjacent to each other, the third and fourth polarizing beam splitters arranged adjacent to the delay path , the third and fourth polarizing beam splitters arranged to split the second interference beam ( C) into first and second polarization states (CP, CS) ; and a photodetector array configured to receive the first polarization state (BP) of the first interference beam (B), the second polarization state (BS) of the first interference beam (B), the first polarization state (CP) of the second interference beam (C), and the second polarization state (CS) of the second interference beam (C); wherein, the first and second prisms , the delay path , and the first, second, third, and fourth polarizing beam splitters , comprise a single assembly that forms a compact package with a volume of less than 23 millimeters by 37 millimeters by 10 millimeters. first and second prisms aligned with each other, a first face of the first prism adjacent to a first face of the second prism , the first prism arranged to receive one of the sample beam or the reference beam, and the second prism arranged to receive the other of the sample beam or the reference beam, the interference beam created and split into a first interference beam (B) and a second interference beam (C) where the first face of the first prism and the first face of the second prism meet; first and second polarizing beam splitters aligned with each other, the first and second polarizing beam splitters arranged adjacent to the first prism , the first and second polarizing beam splitters arranged to split the first interference beam (B) into first and second polarization states (BP, BS); a delay path arranged adjacent to the second polarizing beam splitter, the delay path configured to receive the second interference beam (C); third and fourth polarizing beam splitters arranged adjacent to each other, the third and fourth polarizing beam splitters arranged adjacent to the delay path , the third and fourth polarizing beam splitters arranged to split the second interference beam ( C) into first and second polarization states (CP, CS) ; and a photodetector array configured to receive the first polarization state (BP) of the first interference beam (B), the second polarization state (BS) of the first interference beam (B), the first polarization state (CP) of the second interference beam (C), and the second polarization state (CS) of the second interference beam (C); wherein, the first and second prisms , the delay path , and the first, second, third, and fourth polarizing beam splitters , comprise a single assembly that forms a compact package with a volume of less than 23 millimeters by 37 millimeters by 10 millimeters. <EOS>