Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a micromachined interferometer that uses a half plane beam splitter. SOLUTION: The beam splitter is optically coupled so as to receive an incident beam I and operates so as to split the incident beam into two interfering beams L1 and L2 that respectively propagates inside different media. A fixed mirror M2, embedded in one of such media, reflects the interfering beam L2 and returns this interfering beam back toward the half plane beam splitter through a medium; while a movable mirror M1, which is controlled by an actuator, reflects the interfering beam L1 and returns this interfering beam back toward the half plane beam splitter, passing through the other medium. A detection plane D1 or D2 detects the interference pattern, produced as a result of the interference between the reflected interfering beams L3 and L4. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
A micromachined interferometer (10) is achieved using a half plane beam splitter. The beam splitter is optically coupled to receive an incident beam (I) and operates to split the incident beam into two interfering beams (L1 and L2), each propagating in a different medium. A fixed mirror (M2) embedded in one of the mediums reflects one of the interfering beams (L2) back towards the half plane beam splitter through such medium, while a moveable mirror (M1), which is controlled by an actuator (40), reflects the other interfering beam (L1) back towards said half plane beam splitter through the other medium. A detection plane (D1 or D2) detects an interference pattern produced as a result of interference between the reflected interfering beams (L3 and L4).
Abstract:
A micromachined interferometer (10) is achieved using a half plane beam splitter. The beam splitter is optically coupled to receive an incident beam (I) and operates to split the incident beam into two interfering beams (L1 and L2), each propagating in a different medium. A fixed mirror (M2) embedded in one of the mediums reflects one of the interfering beams (L2) back towards the half plane beam splitter through such medium, while a moveable mirror (M1), which is controlled by an actuator (40), reflects the other interfering beam (L1) back towards said half plane beam splitter through the other medium. A detection plane (D1 or D2) detects an interference pattern produced as a result of interference between the reflected interfering beams (L3 and L4).