1. A method for suppressing artifacts in the image of frequency domain optical coherence tomography, comprising the steps of: providing a sample path and a reference path that differ in their chromatic dispersion so as to create a variation in relative group delay as a function of optical frequency between the sample and reference paths, wherein the relative group delay variation across the range of optical frequencies recorded is greater than ten times the axial resolution of the optical coherence tomography system; separating optical radiation from an optical radiation source among the sample path and the reference path; measuring as a function of optical frequency the combined radiation returned from the sample and reference paths, the measurement producing an interference spectrum; multiplying the measured interference spectrum by a complex phase factor to compensate for the mismatch in chromatic dispersion; and processing the compensated interference spectrum to obtain information on the reflectance distribution in the sample path.