Abstract:
A variety of techniques for deriving cavity linewidth that share the use of multiple input sources of known frequency separation is disclosed allowing the measurement of resonator cavity linewidth. Among the techniques include a double peak ratio method for measuring cavity linewidth through use of a low pass filter. The double peak ratio method allows vertical measurements which are noise immune and independent of swept frequency errors as a method of determining cavity linewidth in a straightforward and accurate manner.
Abstract:
A heterodyne laser spectroscopy system utilizes laser heterodyne techniques for purposes of laser isotope separation spectroscopy, vapor diagnostics, processing of precise laser frequency offsets from a reference frequency and the like, and provides spectral analysis of a laser beam.
Abstract:
A differential plane mirror interferometer comprises a source (10) which emits a light beam containing two orthogonally polarized components of different frequencies; a source of a stabilized electrical reference signal (11) of a frequency corresponding to a difference frequency between the two components of the light beam; a beamsplitter/beam folder assembly (16, 16A) for converting the input beam into two separated, parallel, orthogonally polarized beams; a half-wave retardation plate (29A, 29) located in one of the separated beams to produce two separated parallel beams with the same polarization; means including a polarizing beamsplitter (44), for causing each of the separated parallel beams with the same polarization to be reflected twice by one of two plane mirrors (71, 70) to produce two parallel output beams with the same polarization; a half-wave retardation plate (29B, 29) located in one of the separated parallel output beams, with the beamsplitter/beam folder assembly (16, 16B) converting the two separated parallel orthogonally polarized output beams into a single output beam in which the phase difference between the two frequency components of the single output beam is directly proportional to the optical path length between the two plane mirrors (70, 71); a polarizer (81) for mixing the orthogonal components of the output beam; a photoelectric detector (83) to produce the measurement signal; and a phase/meter accumulator (90) to indicate the phase difference between the reference and measurement signals which is directly proportional to the changes in the optical path length between the two plane mirrors.
Abstract:
A liquid refractometer comprising a light source unit, a probe unit and a detection unit. The light source unit generates a beam of polarized mixed light composed of two coherent light waves that have been linearly polarized in directions at right angles to each other. The probe unit contains a polarization separation portion, a sample holding portion, a reference portion and a beam mixing portion. The polarization separation portion separates the mixed light beam back into the two polarized waves and directs one of the beams through the sample portion and the other beam through the reference portion. The mixing portion re-mixes the two waves after having passed through the sample holding portion and the reference portion. The detection unit receives the re-mixed light and measures the refractive index differences between the liquid sample and the reference portion. Fiber optics optically connect the light source unit, the probe unit and the detector unit.
Abstract:
A body transparent to laser radiation, such as an optical fiber or a preform thereof, is transluminated by a monochromatic beam of a frequency in the THz range split off from a composite laser beam with two closely spaced frequencies produced by the Zeeman effect; the width of that beam in a plane transverse to the body axis is at least equal to the diameter of that body. Another monochromatic beam at the second laser frequency bypasses the transparent body and is recombined with the first beam downstream of the transluminated body to form a field of radiation which is photoelectrically sampled at closely spaced locations in the aforementioned transverse plane to provide a multiplicity of electrtical signals in the MHz range differing in phase from a reference wave of the same frequency photoelectrically obtained from the same monochromatic beams. The phase differences, determined by a comparator, are fed to a calculator computing the refractive-index profile therefrom.
Abstract:
A method for measuring an optical length of light path based on use of multiple-beam interference of light and carried into effect by forming an original light beam with two collinear components having mutually independent polarizations and different frequencies in such a manner that when forming each of the following interfering light beams from the preceding one, polarizations of the light components having different frequencies are mutually converted, whereupon the interfered light is converted into an electric signal and its phase is measured, by which the light path optical length is determined. A laser interferometer carrying said method into effect comprises: a laser and arranged consecutively along the direction of run of the light beam: a device for offsetting the frequency of one of the light components, reflecting elements, a polarizing element for separating the light of the interfering beams according to polarization, and a photoelectric converter of the interfered light into an electric signal, as well as a unit for measuring the phase of an electric signal, connected to the photoelectric converter and also a birefringent plate located between the reflecting elements and adapted for mutual conversion of polarizations of the two light components.
Abstract:
Wave front deformations resulting, for example, from the interaction of a laser beam with a deformable mirror are measured by causing the beam, or a sampled portion thereof, to interfere with a reference beam having a slightly different frequency in order to produce interference patterns in a detection plane. Spaced-apart detectors in that plane brightness oscillation at the difference frequency; and relative phase differences in these oscillations are used to determine wave front tilt, spherical and astigmatic aberrations, and, possibly, other deformations. Control signals are provided for correcting these wave front deformations by controlling the surface contour of the deformable mirror. The measuring laser beam may intercept the mirror within and as part of a polarization-type interferometer, or the measuring beam may be derived from a high-energy beam. In the former case, the reference beam does not intercept the deformable mirror; in the latter case, the reference beam is also derived from the high-energy beam, but "cleaned" by spatial filtering.
Abstract:
This disclosure depicts methods and apparatus for detecting minute phase variations on reflective or transmissive specimens. A scanning phase profilometer is depicted which includes means for producing from a coherent input light beam a set, here shown as a pair, of distinguishably coded interrogating beams which are focused and scanned across a specimen as a pair of slightly displaced light spots. The interrogating beams are recombined after interaction with the specimen. Phase demodulating means are provided including a light responsive means in the path of the recombined interrogating means for detecting phase variations between the interrogating beams caused by optical path length variations as the beams are scanned across the specimen. Means are provided for producing an electrical phase differential signal characterizing the detected phase variations and electrical integrating means for integrating the phase differential signal to produce a signal characterizing the phase profile of the scansion across the specimen. Methods and apparatus for producing a two-dimensional display of the phase profile of a specimen are also disclosed.
Abstract:
The present disclosure is of an atmospheric characterization system that has a central processing board that has a first and a second communication interface. Further, the atmospheric characterization system further has a first precision temperature sensor that is communicatively coupled to the central processing board via the first communication interface and positioned a distance from a first side of the processing board, wherein the precision temperature measures a first temperature and transfers data indicative of the first temperature to the central processing board. In addition, the atmospheric characterization system has a second precision temperature sensor that is communicatively coupled to the central processing board via the second communication interface and positioned the distance from a second opposing side of the processing board such that the first precision temperature sensor and the second precision temperature sensor are equidistance from the processing board and a distance between the first precision sensor and the second precision sensor is a predetermined distance, r, and the second precision temperature sensor measures a second temperature and transfers data indicative of the second temperature to the central processing board simultaneously with the transferring of the first temperature. Additionally, the atmospheric characterization system has a processor that receives the first temperature and the second temperature and calculates a value indicative of atmospheric turbulence based upon the first temperature and the second temperature, wherein the value indicative of the atmospheric turbulence is used for designing, modifying, calibrating, or correcting an optical system.
Abstract:
An optical interferometric system for measurement of a full-field thickness of a plate-like object in real time includes two light sources, two screens, two image capturing devices, and an image processing module. The light sources radiate incident lights toward a reference point on the plate-like object in respective directions to produce respective interference fringe patterns (IFPs). The image capturing devices capture light intensity distribution images respectively of the IFPS imaged respectively on the screens. The image processing module calculates a fringe order at the reference point according to the light intensity distribution images, and obtains a full-field thickness distribution of the plate-like object according to the fringe order.