The air refractive index is an important parameter in interferometric length measurements, since it substantially
affects the measurement accuracy. We present a refractive index of air measurement method based on monitoring
the phase difference between the ambient air and vacuum inside a permanently evacuated double-spaced cell.
The cell is placed in one arm of the Michelson interferometer equipped with two light sources—red LED and
HeNe laser, while the low-coherence and laser interference signals are measured separately. Both phase and group
refractive indices of air can be calculated from the measured signals. The method was experimentally verified by
comparing the obtained refractive index values with two different techniques.
This paper presents a contactless method for gauge blocks calibration combining laser interferometry and low-coherence interferometry. In the presented system, the contactless measurement of the absolute gauge block length is done as a single-step operation without any change in optical setup during measurement, giving complete information about the gauge block length. The paper also presents a set of optimization steps which have been done in order to transform the original experimental setup into the automatic system which meets legal length metrology requirements. To prove the measurement traceability, we conducted a set of gauge block length measurement comparing data from the optimized system and the established reference systems TESA NPL A.G.I. 300 and TESA–UPC operated in Czech Metrology Institute laboratory.
We present system of structure health measurement by optical fiber sensors based on fiber Bragg gratings. Our system is focused to additionally install to existing buildings. We prepared first set-up of the system to monitoring of the nuclear power plant containment shape deformation. The presented system can measure up to several tens of sensors simultaneously. Each sensor contains optical fiber grating to measurement of change of length and the other independed fiber grating to monitor the temperature and the other ineligible effects.
We present a new self-referenced interferometer for the form measurement of hollow cylindrical tubes that provides the accuracy in the micrometer range. It is based on a simple and robust setup where the reference and object waves are represented by the central and peripheral parts, respectively, of the conical wave generated by a single axicon. The inteferogram is characterized by a closed-fringe pattern with a circular carrier which allows for the interference phase demodulation using spatial synchronous detection. The misalignment aberrations are corrected by an iterative computational procedure. The measurement capabilities of the interferometer are experimentally tested for the glass and stainless steel tubes with lengths from 220 mm to 600 mm.
We present optical fiber sensors to measurement strain and vibration. The sensors are based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBG). We prepared construction of strain sensors with respect to its implementation on the outer surface of concrete structures and with compensation of potential temperature drifts. These sensors are projected with look forward to maximal elongation and strength which can be applied to the sensor. Each sensor contains two optical fibers with FBGs. One FBG is glued into the sensor in points of fixation which are in the line with mounting holes. This FBG is prestressed to half of measurement range, than the stretching and pressing can be measured simultaneously by one FBG. The second FBG is placed inside the sensor without fixation to measure temperature drifts. The sensor can be used to structure health monitoring. The sensors to measurement vibration are based on tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) with fiber taper. The sensor uses the TFBG as a cladding modes reflector and fiber taper as a bend-sensitive recoupling member. The lower cladding modes (ghost), reflected from TFBG, is recoupled back into the fiber core via tapered fiber section. We focused on optimization of TFBG tilt angle to reach maximum reflection of the ghost and taper parameters. In this article we present complete set-up, optical and mechanical parameters of both types of sensors.
This paper presents a method for active angular alignment of gauge block implemented in a system for automatic contactless calibration of gauge blocks designed at ISI ASCR. The system combines low-coherence interferometry and laser interferometry, where the first identifies the gauge block sides position and the second one measures the gauge block length itself. A crucial part of the system is the algorithm for gauge block alignment to the measuring beam which is able to compensate the gauge block lateral and longitudinal tilt up to 0.141 mrad. The algorithm is also important for the gauge block position monitoring during its length measurement.
We present system of structure health measurement by optical fiber sensors based on fiber Bragg gratings. Our system is focused to additionally install to existing buildings. We prepared first set-up of the system to monitoring of the nuclear power plant containment shape deformation. The presented system can measure up to several tens of sensors simultaneously. Each sensor contains optical fiber grating to measurement of change of length and the other independed fiber grating to monitor the temperature and the other ineligible effects.
This paper presents a method for active angular alignment of gauge block implemented in a system for automatic contactless calibration of gauge blocks designed at ISI ASCR. The system combines low-coherence interferometry and laser interferometry, where the first identifies the gauge block sides position and the second one measures the gauge block length itself. A crucial part of the system is the algorithm for gauge block alignment to the measuring beam which is able to compensate the gauge block lateral and longitudinal tilt up to 0.141 mrad. The algorithm is also important for the gauge block position monitoring during its length measurement.
We propose to extend the principle of compensation of the fluctuations of the refractive index of air through monitoring the optical length within the measuring range of the displacement measuring interferometer. The concept is derived form a tracking refractometry evaluating the refractive index of air in the beam axis coinciding with the positioning interferometer. Application of this approach in multi-axis positioning and measurement mans to compromise the principle of spatial unity of the displacement measuring laser beam and the beam of the tracking refractometer. In this contribution we evaluate the level of uncertainty associated with the spatial shift of these two beams. Consequently the nature of the fluctuations of the refractive index of air in laser interferometry is investigated and discussed with the focus on potential applications in coordinate measuring systems and long-range metrological scanning probe microscopy systems.
The recent effort leads to reliable imaging techniques which can help to a surgeon during operations. The fluorescence spectroscopy was selected as very useful online in vivo imaging method to organics and biological materials analysis. The presented work scopes to a laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy technique to detect tissue local necrosis in small intestine surgery. In first experiments, we tested tissue auto-fluorescence technique but a signal-to-noise ratio didn’t express significant results. Then we applied a contrast dye - IndoCyanine Green (ICG) which absorbs and emits wavelengths in the near IR. We arranged the pilot experimental setup based on highly coherent extended cavity diode laser (ECDL) used for stimulating of some critical areas of the small intestine tissue with injected ICG dye. We demonstrated the distribution of the ICG exciter with the first file of shots of small intestine tissue of a rabbit that was captured by high sensitivity fluorescent cam.
We present an interferometric technique based on differential interferometry setup for measurement in the subnanometer scale in atmospheric conditions. The motivation for development of this ultraprecise technique is coming from the field of nanometrology. The key limiting factor in any optical measurement are fluctuations of the refractive index of air representing the greatest source of uncertainty. Our proposal is based on the concept of combining overdetermined interferometric setup where a reference wavelength is derived from a mechanical reference for compensation of fast fluctuations and traditional indirect evaluation of the refractive index compensating on the other hand the long-term drift of the mechanical reference caused by thermal expansion. The technique allows to track the variations of the refractive index of air on-line directly in the line of the measuring beam and to compensate for the fluctuations. The optical setup consists of three interferometers sharing the same beam path where two measure differentially the displacement while the third evaluates the changes in the measuring range acting as a tracking refractometer. The principle is demonstrated on an experimental setup and a set of measurements describing the performance is presented.
In scanning probe microscopy laser interferometers are usually used for measuring the position of the probe tip with a
metrological traceability. As the most of the AFM setups are designed to work under standard atmospheric conditions
the changes of the refractive index of air have an influence to measured values of the length with 1.0exp(-4) relatively.
In order to achieve better accuracies the refractive index of air has to be monitored continuously and its instantaneous
value has to be used for compensating the lengths measured by all of the interferometric axes. In the presented work we
developed a new concept of an electronic unit which is able to monitor the refractive index of air on basis of
measurement of ambient atmospheric conditions: temperature, humidity, pressure of the air and the CO2 concentration. The data processing is based on Ciddor equation for calculating the refractive index of air. The important advantage of the unit is a very low power consumption of the electronics so the unit causes only negligible temperature effects to the
measured environment. The accuracy of the indirect measuring method employed by the unit was verified. We tested
the accuracy in comparison with a direct method of measuring refractive index of air based on an evacuatable cell
placed at the measuring arm of a laser interferometer. An experimental setup used for verification is presented together with a set of measurements describing the performance. The resulting accuracy of the electronic unit falls to the 4.1 exp(-7) relatively.
We present an interferometric technique based on differential interferometry setup for measurement in the subnanometer
scale in atmospheric conditions. One of the important limiting factors in any optical measurement are fluctuations of the
refractive index of air representing a source of uncertainty traditionally compensated when the index is evaluated
indirectly from the physical parameters of the atmosphere. Our proposal is based on the concept of overdetermined
interferometric setup where a reference length is derived from a mechanical frame made from a material with very low
thermal coefficient on the 1*E-8 level. The technique allows to track the variations of the refractive index of air on-line
directly in the line of the measuring beam and to compensate for the fluctuations. The optical setup consists of three
interferometers sharing the same beam path where two measure differentially the displacement while the third evaluates the changes in the measuring range acting as a tracking refractometer. The principle is demonstrated on an experimental setup and a set of measurements describing the performance is presented.
Although the laser interferometry represents the most precise class of techniques in the field of precise measurement of geometrical quantities, its wide use in measurement systems is still accompanied by many unresolved challenges. One of these challenges is the complexity of underlying optical systems. We present a novel approach to the interference phase detection - fringe subdivision - in the homodyne laser interferometry that aims at reduction of the optical complexity while the resolution is preserved. Our method employs a series of computational steps to infer a pair of signals in quadrature that allows to determine the interference phase with a sub-nanometre resolution from an interference signal from a non-polarising interferometer sampled by a single photodetector. The complexity trade-off is the use of laser beam with frequency modulation capability. The method was experimentally evaluated on a Michelson interferometer-based free-space setup and its performance has been compared to a traditional homodyne detection method. The results indicate the method is a feasible al
ternative for the traditional homodyne detection since it performs with comparable accuracy (< 0.5nm standard
deviation), especially where the optical setup complexity is principal issue and the modulation of laser beam is not a heavy burden, for instance in multi-axis measurement systems or laser diode based systems.
At present time the DFB (Distributed FeedBack), laser diodes are the most suitable laser sources from semiconductor laser sources for using in laser interferometry. The DFB laser diodes have narrow frequency linewidth, mode hop free tuning range up to 2 nm and sufficient optical power. In addition to the other types of laser diodes are available in the package with optical fiber at the output and the DFB laser diodes with 1541 nm wavelength has optical isolator inside. Unfortunately the DFB laser diodes with 760 nm wavelength have no optical isolator inside package. This induces a back reflection from the fiber connections at the output to the laser chip. Than the mode hop free tuning range is decreasing rapidly. We present our experience with adaptation of the DFB laser diodes to laser interferometer and methods to decrease back reflection.
We used frequency stabilization by frequency lock to F-P (Fabry – Perot) resonator for VCSEL laser diode but the DFB laser diodes can be better frequency stabilized using absorption to absorption spectrum of gases (760 nm, 1542 nm, 1552 nm) to compare achieved frequency stability of the 760 nm DFB laser diodes.
The work presents a method where the change of the length of the measuring arm of the Michelson interferometer is
monitored by the cavity length of the optical resonator. The resonator works as distance-to-optical frequency converter
with ultimate linearity. It has locked a tunable laser to certain cavity mode. The optical frequency of the laser is
heterodyned with immediate “tooth” of the femtosecond comb spectrum. The results of measured scale linearity of the
homodyne interferometer for corrected and non-corrected scale are presented for measuring range of the homodyne
interferometer in order of one micrometer and more.
KEYWORDS: Digital signal processing, Frequency combs, Laser sources, Continuous wave operation, Femtosecond phenomena, Signal processing, Optical signal processing, Demodulation, Semiconductor lasers, Nonlinear optics
The presented work is focused on digital processing of beat note signals from a femtosecond optical frequency comb. The levels of mixing products of single spectral components of the comb with CW laser sources are usually very low compared to products of mixing all the comb components together. RF counters are more likely to measure the frequency of the strongest spectral component rather than a weak beat note. Proposed experimental digital signal processing system solves this problem by analyzing the whole spectrum of the output RF signal and using software defined radio (SDR) algorithms. Our efforts concentrate in two main areas: Firstly, using digital servo-loop techniques for locking free running continuous laser sources on single components of the fs comb spectrum. Secondly, we are experimenting with digital signal processing of the RF beat note spectrum produced by f–2f 1 technique used for assessing the offset and repetition frequencies of the comb, resulting in digital servo-loop stabilization of the fs comb. Software capable of computing and analyzing the beat-note RF spectrums using FFT and peak detection was developed. A SDR algorithm performing phase demodulation on the f– 2f signal is used as a regulation error signal source for a digital phase-locked loop stabilizing the offset frequency of the fs comb.
This paper presents a novel principle for contactless gauge block measurement using a combination of low-coherence interferometry and laser interferometry. The experimental setup combines a Dowell interferometer and a Michelson interferometer to ensure a gauge block length determination with direct traceability to the primary length standard. This setup was designed for contactless complex gauge block analysis providing information about gauge block length, gauge block faces surface profile (e.g., indication of scratches) and by analysis of the interference fringes shape, also about the gauge block edge flatness distortion. The designed setup is supplemented by an automatic handling system designed for a set of 126 gauge blocks (0.5 mm to 100 mm) to allow the automatic contactless calibration of the complex gauge block set without a human operator.
We present a concept combining traditional displacement incremental interferometry with a tracking refractometer following the fluctuations of the refractive index of air. This concept is represented by an interferometric system of three Michelson-type interferometers where two are arranged in a counter-measuring configuration and the third one is set to measure the changes of the fixed length, here the measuring range of the overall displacement. In this configuration the two counter-measuring interferometers have identical beam paths with proportional parts of the overall one. The fixed interferometer with its geometrical length of the measuring beam linked to a mechanical reference made of a high thermal-stability material (Zerodur) operates as a tracking refractometer monitoring the atmospheric refractive index directly in the beam path of the displacement measuring interferometers. This principle has been demonstrated experimentally through a set of measurements in a temperature controlled environment under slowly changing refractive index of air in comparison with its indirect measurement through Edlen formula. With locking of the laser optical frequency to fixed value of the overall optical length the concept can operate as an interferometric system with compensation of the fluctuations of the refractive index of air.
The work presents a measurement of lengths by an optical measuring resonator. The resonator works as distance-to-optical
frequency converter with ultimate linearity. It has locked a tunable laser to certain cavity mode. The optical
frequency of the laser is heterodyned with immediate “tooth” of the femtosecond comb spectrum. For the testing of the
method the special combination of the optical resonator and Michelson interferometer was put together. This system
combines the cavity length of the optical resonator with the measuring arm of the Michelson laser interferometer. The
one mirror of the system is common for both laser interferometers and it is driven by piezoelectric transducer. The
testing range is limited by the range of tuneability of the used laser and it covers 1000 nm of the length measurement.
KEYWORDS: Digital signal processing, Laser sources, Femtosecond phenomena, Continuous wave operation, Signal processing, Frequency combs, Demodulation, Radio optics, Signal detection, Analog electronics
The presented work is focused on digital processing of beat note signals from a femtosecond optical frequency comb.
The levels of mixing products of single spectral components of the comb with CW laser sources are usually very low
compared to products of mixing all the comb components together. RF counters are more likely to measure the
frequency of the strongest spectral component rather than a weak beat note. Proposed experimental digital signal
processing system solves this problem by analyzing the whole spectrum of the output RF signal and using software
defined radio (SDR) algorithms. Our efforts concentrate in two main areas: Firstly, we are experimenting with digital
signal processing of the RF beat note spectrum produced by f–2f 1 technique and with fully digital servo-loop
stabilization of the fs comb. Secondly, we are using digital servo-loop techniques for locking free running continuous
laser sources on single components of the fs comb spectrum. Software capable of computing and analyzing the beat-note
RF spectrums using FFT and peak detection was developed. A SDR algorithm performing phase demodulation on the f–
2f signal is used as a regulation error signal source for a digital phase-locked loop stabilizing the offset and repetition
frequencies of the fs comb.
The work presents measurements of the length stability of Zerodur glass ceramic with temperature change. Measurement of this thermal characteristic is necessary for determination of the optimal temperature at which the Zerodur glass ceramic has a coefficient of thermal expansion close to zero. The principle of the measurement is to monitor the length changes using an optical resonator with a cavity mirror spacer made from the Zerodur material to be studied. The resonator is placed inside a vacuum chamber with a temperature control. A tunable laser diode is locked to a certain optical mode of the resonator to monitor the optical frequency of this mode. A beat-note signal from optical mixing between the laser and a stabilized femtosecond frequency comb is detected and processed. The temperature dependence of the glass ceramics was determined and analyzed. The resolution of the length measurement of the experimental set-up is on the order of 0.1 nm.
This paper presents a novel principle for contactless gauge block measurement using a combination of low-coherence
interferometry and laser interferometry. The experimental setup combines a Dowell interferometer and a Michelson
interferometer to ensure a gauge block length determination with direct traceability to the primary length standard. This setup was designed for contactless complex gauge block analysis providing information about gauge block length, gauge block faces surface profile (e.g., indication of scratches) and by analysis of the interference fringes shape, also about the gauge block edge flatness distortion. The designed setup is supplemented by an automatic handling system designed for a set of 126 gauge blocks (0.5 mm to 100 mm) to allow the automatic contactless calibration of the complex gauge block set without a human operator.
The linewidth of the emission spectrum and the mode-hop free tuning range of the wavelength are crucial parameters for laser sources in laser interferometry, especially absolute laser interferometry. At present time the DFB (Distributed FeedBack), laser diodes are the most suitable laser sources from semiconductor laser sources for using in laser interferometry. We present our set-up of the optical fiber based laser interferometer where these laser diodes can be used. The DFB laser diodes have narrow frequency linewidth, mode hop free tuning range up to 2 nm and sufficient optical power. In addition to the other types of laser diodes are available in the package with optical fiber at the output and the DFB laser diodes with 1541 nm wavelength has optical isolator inside. Unfortunately the DFB laser diodes with 760 nm wavelength have no optical isolator inside package. This induces a back reflection from the fiber connections at the output to the laser chip. Than the mode hop free tuning range is decreasing rapidly. We present our experience with adaptation of the DFB laser diodes to laser interferometer and methods to decrease back reflection.
Determination of the interference phase, i.e. the mutual phase shift between interfering waves is a principal issue in the interferometric measurement, especially on the nanometre scale. Our goal was to develop a novel interference phase detection technique that employs a computational approach and a frequency modulation of the laser source to achieve comparable performance with a homodyne detection with an optical phase shift generation. We have used a Michelson setup with polarizing optics that allowed to compare both the homodyne detection method and our novel method side by side while both methods shared the optical setup. Our method also comprises error compensation that deals e.g. with residual amplitude modulation and the scale non-linearities. The experiments revealed that the novel method achieves a periodic error less than 0.16 angular degrees and a standard deviation of less than 1.5 degrees, compared against the reference. The operational distance was 600mm. The method had proven it is suitable replacement for traditional homodyne detection techniques since it has comparable performance and significantly lower demands on the optical setup.
The linewidth of the emission spectrum and the mode-hop free tuning range of the wavelength are crucial parameters for laser sources in laser interferometry, especially absolute laser interferometry.
At present time the DFB laser diodes are the most suitable laser sources from semiconductor laser sources for using in laser interferometry. We present our set-up of the optical fiber based laser interferometer where these laser diodes can be used. The measurement probe is realized by standard optical fiber with reflection coated fiber optical connector.
First we used VCSEL laser diode to measurement with our fiber interferometer. The frequency linewidth, the mode hop free tuning range and the optical power is not sufficient for practical measurement outside of laboratory. The DFB laser diode has narrower frequency linewidth, wider mode hop free tuning range and more optical power. In addition to the opposite of VCSEL laser diodes are available in the package with optical fiber at the output and the DFB laser diodes with 1541 nm wavelength has optical isolator inside package. One of the main problems in using of the DFB laser diodes with 760 nm wavelength is a back reflection from the fiber connections at the output. We present our experience with adaptation of both types of the DFB laser diodes to laser interferometer and methods to decrease back reflections from the connections of optical fibers.
We used stabilization by frequency lock to F-P (Fabry - Perot) resonator for VCSEL laser diode. The absorption in Krypton and Acetylen (760 nm, 1542 nm, 1552 nm) is used for the frequency stabilization of the DFB laser diodes.
We present comparison of our first measurement with frequency stabilization of these laser diodes with 760 nm and 1541 nm wavelength using absorption in Acetylene and Krypton and adaptation of these diodes to our laser interferometer.
This paper describes a pilot experiment of optimization of a white-light source for a low-coherence interferometry. The white-light source combines the light beams generated with colour LEDs. By modelling of the white light spectra, a contrast of a white light interference fringe could be changed and set to the maximal value.
Hereafter, a concept of the light source for the low-coherence interferometry based on high-luminescent LED and single mode optical fibres is presented.The design comes out form a requirement to have an output beam combining a white-light beam and a laser beam. In the case of coaxial white-light and laser beam, the white-light interferometer is precisely combined with an incremental laser interferometer. This combination allows doing online surface diagnostics with high precision.
The optimized white light source is designed to be a crucial part of an experimental setup for the surface diagnostics and automatic calibration of gauge blocks.
In this contribution we present an approach to incremental interferometric measurements of displacements over a limited
range where the atmospheric wavelength of the coherent laser source is either directly stabilized to a mechanical
reference or is corrected to fit to the reference. The idea comes from the possibility to use a highly stable material for a
reference frame, material which can perform thermal expansion coefficients on the level 10-8/K within a large
temperature range up to 50K. Over a range of several K which may be the practical range for displacement
measurements the coefficient is even smaller. This may outperform the best techniques of correction for the variations of
the refractive index of air. The mechanics is always a part of the measurement setup and represents one of the sources of
uncertainty. A link of the refractive to the mechanical reference can practically eliminate another source of uncertainty.
At present time the DFB (Distributed FeeBack), VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) and FBG (Fiber Bragg
Grating) based laser diodes are suitable like laser source for using in laser interferometry. Their linewidth of the
emission spectrum and the mode-hop free tuning range of the wavelength are crucial parameters for laser sources in laser
interferometry, especially absolute laser interferometry. We present our set-up of the fiber laser interferometer where
these laser diodes can be used. The design of the optical set-up of the experimental interferometer is realized using fiber
optics to reduce the influence of the index of refraction of air. The measurement probe was realized by standard optical
fiber with reflection coated optical connector.
Our primary wavelength of this laser interferometer is 760 nm. We used the DFB laser diode at 760 nm wavelength with
mode-hop free tuning range above 1 nm and fiber output up to 10 mW. We present our first characteristics without
external stabilization of the output wavelength. We compared our new DFB laser source with our previously developed
laser source with VCSEL diode and with FBG based laser diodes. On the basis of our simulations and measurements of
the commercially available fiber gratings we designed a special 100 mm long fiber Bragg grating with apodization.
Finally, we simulated required parameters of fiber gratings arrays for laser interferometry - multiple fiber gratings.
Results are presented.
We describe in this paper a pilot experiment of optimization of a white-light source for a low-coherence interferometry.
The white-light source combines the light beams generated with colour LEDs. By modelling of the white light spectra, a
contrast of a white light interference fringe could be changed and set to the maximal value.
The second part of this paper is a description of a white-light fringe analysis ensured with a low-cost colour CCD
camera. The used detection technique employs a phase-crossing algorithm which identifies a zero optical path difference
as the point where the phase difference between the red, green and blue part of the white-light interference fringe
becomes equal to zero.
The optimized white light source is designed to be a crucial part of an experimental setup for the surface diagnostics and
automatic calibration of gauge blocks.
In construction of highly mechanically stable measuring devices like AFM microscopes or nano-comparators the use of low expansion materials is very necessary. We can find Zerodur ceramics or ULE glasses used as a frame or basement of these devices. The expansion coefficient of such low-expansion materials is lower than 0.01 x 10-6 m•K-1. For example in case of a frame or basement 20 cm long it leads to a dilatation approximately 4 nm per 1 K. For calculation of the total uncertainty of the mentioned measuring devices the knowledge of the thermal expansion coefficient of the frame or basement is necessary. In this work we present a method, where small distance changes are transformed into rf-frequency signal. The frequency of this signal is detected by a counter which measures the value of the frequency with respect to an ultra-stable time-base. This method uses a Fabry-Perot cavity as a distance measuring tool. The spacer of the optical resonator is made from the investigated low-expansion material. It is placed into a vacuum chamber where the inside temperature is controlled. A selected mode of the femtosecond frequency of the femtosecond comb which represent the distance changes of the optical resonator. The frequency is measured by the rf-counter which is synchronized by a time-base signal from an atomic clock. The first results show the resolution of the method in the 0.1 nm order. Therefore the method has a potential in characterisation of materials in the nanoworld.
The use of an ultra low expansion cavity plays a crucial role in laser stabilization, and in atomic or ion clocks.
We propose an easy method of precise monitoring of optical path distance in Fabry-Perot interferometer. The
spacing of mirrors of the Fabry-Perot interferometer in ambient air represents the optical path distance referenced
to stable optical frequency of the femtosecond mode-locked laser. With the help of highly selective optical filter it
is possible to get only a few of separate spectral components of laser comb. Optical path distance is transfered to
optical frequency of the comb component and through the repetition frequency of the laser to the radio-frequency
domain. Repetition frequency of the laser can be monitored with the uncertainty referenced to the any local
oscillator or through the GPS to the atomic clock standard. By using this mehod we are able to measure and
lock the Fabry-Perot cavity to a selected single component of optical frequency comb an to measure the optical
path distance directly in rf domain.
We describe in this paper a pilot experiment of a white-light fringe analysis with a low-cost color CCD camera. The used
detection technique employs the phase-crossing algorithm which identifies the zero optical path difference as the point
where the phase difference between the red, green and blue part of the white-light interference fringe becomes equal to
zero. An experimental arrangement is based on superluminescent LED diode. The experimental setup is designed to be a
crucial part of the complex system for automatic contactless diagnostic and calibration of gauge blocks.
We present an experimental arrangement of an interferometric system designed to operate with full compensation for
varying refractive index of air in the measuring axis. The concept is based on a principle where the wavelength of the
laser source is derived not from an optical frequency of the stabilized laser but from a fixed length being a base-plate or a
frame of the whole measuring setup. This results into stabilization of the wavelength of the laser source in atmospheric
conditions to mechanical length of suitable etalon made of a material with very low thermal expansion. The ultra-low
thermal expanding glass ceramic materials available on the market perform thermal expansion coefficients on the level
10-8 which significantly exceeds the limits of uncertainty posed by indirect evaluation of refractive index of air through
Edlen formula. To verify the concept a tracking of laser frequency following the drift of refractive index has been
performed.
First set-up of the laser interferometer with tunable semiconductor laser is presented. To reduce the influence of the
index of refraction of air, the design of optical set-up of the experimental interferometer is realized using fiber optics.
VCSEL diodes (Vertical Surface Emitting Laser) and DFB laser diodes (Distributed FeedBack) were used in our setup
of the laser interferometer. Comparison of the frequency stability and the wavelength tuneability of these laser diodes are
presented. In our first set-up of the laser interferometer was used the method of the frequency stabilization on optical
resonator to stabilize of frequency of laser diodes and measurement of the tuneability of the wavelength. Measurement
of absolute values can be providing by this laser interferometer. The project will be proceed with the research of other
modulation and detection techniques and development of a new method with high level of digital signal processing for
the detection of interference signals to improve resolution of the interferometer. The design of an absolute laser
interferometer which was intended to operate in applications oriented to precision manufacturing and testing where the
ability to measure distance directly is needed and where the measured distances are relatively small ranging over no
more than few cm.
Presented work deals with the description of a novel interferometric nanocomparator intended for calibrating
displacement sensors with nanometer resolution used in precision engineering. The nanocomparator is based on a
633 nm laser homodyne interferometer with 2-pass measuring arm. Digital signal filtering increases the SNR and allows
achieving sub-nanometer resolution of interferometric measurements. High dynamic range of the measuring mirror
displacement is achieved using a two-stage positioning system formed of a linear guide way and piezoelectric actuators.
A linear guide way is used for positioning over a 100 mm range with 50 nm resolution. Piezoelectric actuators linked in a
closed loop locked to the interferometer value are used for fine positioning with better than 1 nm resolution over a 5 um
range. Two alternative versions of the mechanical design of the coarse positioning stage were tested and compared: a
design utilizing a linear guide way with ball carrier bearings and a positioning system formed of a parallelogram frame
with flexible junctions. Wearing out of linear guide ways may cause angular deviations of the mirror from the ideally
perpendicular position to the laser beam. Active stabilization of the mirror using piezoelectric actuators linked to a
4-quadrant light detector was developed to eliminate these deviations and other angular errors. A set of experimental
calibrations of inductive and incremental rule precision displacement sensors was conducted.
In this contribution we propose a scheme of Fabry-Perot interferometer measuring the absolute distance in
atmosferic conditions using a femtosecond laser comb. The spacing of mirrors of the Fabry-Perot interferometer
represents the length standard referenced to stable optical frequency of the femtosecond mode-locked laser. With
the help of highly selective optical filter it is possible to get only a few of separate spectral components. By tuning
and locking of the Fabry-Perot cavity to a selected single component it is possible to get a mechanical length
standard with the uncertainty of the repetition frequency of the femtosecond laser. If the interferometer measures
distance in atmospheric conditions, the absolute value of the laser wavelength fluctuates with a refractive index
of air. Compairing the measurement in evacuated chamber with measurement in ambient air leads to enhanced
precision in measurement of refrective index of air.
KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Sensors, Interferometers, Signal detection, Interferometry, Calibration, Digital filtering, Electronics, Computing systems, Signal processing
Displacement sensors with nanometer resolution used in precision engineering demand precise scale calibrations.
Presented paper deals with the description of subsystems of a novel interferometric nanocomparator. High speed digital
quadrature detector based on digital signal controller is used here for processing of the X-Y signals from the detection
unit of the interferometer. Digital filtering increases signal to noise ratio and allows achievement of sub-nanometer
resolution and accuracy of the laser interferometer. The refractive index of the air is computed continuously from the
current atmospheric values using Edlen's formula. High dynamic range of the mirror displacement setting is achieved
using a two stage positioning system formed of a linear guide way and piezoelectric actuators. The linear guide way is
used for open-loop coarse positioning with 50 nm accuracy and up to 100 mm of displacement. Piezoelectric actuators in
servo-loop linked to the interferometer value are used for fine positioning with better than 1 nm accuracy over a 5 μm
range. Due to imperfections of the linear guide way with ball carrier bearings, random deviations of the mirror from the
ideally perpendicular position to the laser beam may introduce uncertainties to the measurement. To compensate this, the
position of the beam reflected from the mirror is measured by a 4-quadrant light detector. Using the piezoelectric
actuators in servo-loop mode the control part of the system actively stabilizes the mirror in a position perpendicular to
the laser beam.
We describe in this paper an experimental arrangement for optical pumping of rubidium based on a high-power laser
diode array. The emission spectrum of the array was narrowed by external injection locking technique by means of cw
Ti:Sa resp. an extended cavity laser (ECL) based on a high-power laser diode. The array emission spectrum was reduced
with the aim to achieve maximum efficiency of the Rb optical pumping process. By way of the external injection locking
technique, the power spectral density at the desired wavelength 794.76 nm was increased about 9 times. The laser system
was designed to be a crucial part of the HpXe (hyperpolarized xenon) production process.
In metrology applications of laser interferometers like a scale calibration of capacitive or inductive sensors, strictly linear
positioning of the measuring mirror of the interferometer is necessary. It is maintained usually by a stage, which is based
on principle of linear guide ways with ball carrier bearings. But possible imperfection of guides of the travel stage can
cause deviations of the mirror plane from the right angle to the axis of traveling. Mentioned angle deviations lead to
distortion of interference fringes in the output of the interferometer and by other words it causes non-linearity of the
interferometer scale. Because the phenomenon is very random for this type of the travel stage the uncertainty of
calibration of sensors is higher. In the work we present a method, which eliminates this usual problem by two ways. The
first of them utilizes a special configuration of the laser interferometer where possible angle deviation of the mirror plane
is compensated by second pass of the laser beam in the measuring arm of the interferometer. The next way is based on
continual monitoring of spatial position of laser beams in the interferometer when the measuring mirror is positioned. It
works with condition that the mirror can be slightly tilted by piezoelectric actuators in servo-loop mode with respect to
detected spatial position.
We describe in this paper an experimental arrangement for optical pumping of rubidium based on a high-power laser
diode array. The emission spectrum of the array was narrowed by external injection locking technique by means of cw
Ti:Sa resp. an extended cavity laser (ECL) based on a high-power laser diode. The array emission spectrum was reduced
with the aim to achieve maximum efficiency of the Rb optical pumping process. By way of the external injection locking
technique, the power spectral density at the desired wavelength 794.76 nm was increased about 9 times. The laser system
was designed to be a crucial part of the HpXe (hyperpolarized xenon) production process.
We present a compact Extended Cavity Laser (ECL) system based on a high-power laser diode optimized for maximum
efficiency of the Rb optical pumping process. The system represents the crucial part of the HpG (hyperpolarized gasses)
production process. We concentrated on the ECL system optimization - linewidth matching and frequency stabilization - for the optical pumping process. We show that the intensity of optical feedback in the ECL laser influences linewidth and
output power and it is possible to find an optimum value for the highest power spectral density at the absorption line of
desire. The emission linewidth was reduced approximately 10 times with only half of the total optical power loss. The
ECL system is controlled by electronic servo-loop for laser frequency stabilization.
Laser interferometers are even more precise distance measurement devices with resolution up to sub-nanometer region.
If the measurements are carry out under atmospheric conditions (usual situation in an industry), the interferometers
measure optical path length of an unknown distance instead of its true geometrical value. It is caused by an index of
refraction of air that introduces a multiplicative constant to measured results. If we want correct values of the distance
measurement the knowledge of the instantaneous value of the index is necessary. In the work, we present design and the
first experimental results of method of the direct measurement of the index, where a Fabry-Perot (F.-P) interferometer is
used as a detection system. The method employs a differential setup of two F.-P interferometers, where the cavity of the
first is permanently evacuated and the other is on the air. The ultimate resolution of the measurement and the operating
regime without need of a vacuum pump stay the method very advantage. The work includes comparison of the method
with conventional refractometer where evacuatable cell is inserted into the measuring arm of Michelson interferometer.
The comparison of the method with indirect measurement of the index with using Edlen formula is presented too.
We present an extended cavity laser system based on a tunable high-power laser diode optimized for maximum
efficiency of the optical pumping process of Rb atoms. The aplication of the laser system is orineted to employment in an
experimental arrangement for production of hyperpolarized gasses (HpG), namely Xenon. It is designed to operate in
medical and industrial applications to come. We concentrated on the laser diode emission linewidth reduction because of
the efficiency of the optical pumping process. The emission linewidth was reduced approximately from 1 THz to 69 GHz
with only half of the total optical power loss and quadruple increase of the power spectral density at the wavelength of
desire.
KEYWORDS: Rubidium, Absorption, Optical pumping, Tunable lasers, High power lasers, Laser stabilization, Magnetism, Chemical oxygen iodine lasers, Control systems, Chemical species
We present a laser system based on a tunable Titanium:Sapphire (Ti:Sa) laser optimized for maximum efficiency of the optical pumping process of Rb atoms. The system represents the first and crucial part of the HpG (hyperpolarized gasses) production process. It was designed for laboratory purposes where the expensive and complicated Ti:Sa laser is justified because of its variability. narrow linewidth and easy tuning of the wavelength. The system consists of a modified commercial Ti:Sa laser pumped by a Nd:YAG laser, beam-forming and polarizing optics, and heated interaction cell attached to a vacuum manifold and gas containers placed in homogeneous magnetic field generated by a set of Helmholz coils.
We present a laser system based on a tunable high-power laser diode optimized for maximum efficiency of the optical pumping process of Rb atoms. The system represents the crucial part of the HpG (hyperpolarized gasses) production process. It is designed to operate in medical and industrial applications to come. We concentrated on the laser diode emission linewidth reduction because of the efficiency of the optical pumping process. The emission linewidth was reduced approximately from 1 THz to 69 GHz with only half of the total optical power loss and quadruple increase of the power spectral density at the wavelength of desire. Furthermore we present the cooling system for high-power laser diode bar and the measured laser diode bar emission line too.
We present experimental results achieved by a method of direct conversion of the relative changes of the measurement optical path of Michelson interferometer to relative changes of the resonant optical-frequency of Fabry-Perot (F.-P.) resonator. We developed the method as a testing process for verification of scale-linearity of Michelson interferometer with total resolution 0,3 nm. The method consists of a mechanical coupled shift of the corner cube mirror of the interferometer measurement arm with one of the mirrors of F.-P. resonator. A piezoelectric transducer (PZT) with approximately 10 microns elongation drives that mechanical shift. An external tunable laser source at 633 nm wavelength provides identification of one of the resonant optical frequency of F.-P. resonator by the frequency locking mechanism with synchronous detection technique in the servo loop feedback. Because definition of the meter unit is based on iodine stabilized He-Ne laser, then the optical frequency of the locked tunable laser is frequency compared with HeNeI2 laser by the heterodyne optical mixing. A fast high-resolution counter counts the resultant radio-frequency signal as a product of the optical mixing. Measured frequency values and values of interference phase acquired by the interferometer are simultaneously sampled step by step for each elongation position of PZT element. The experimental data achieved by F.-P. resonator shows uncertainty of the relative distance change better than 0,01 nm. We verified the scale-linearity of Michelson interferometer to ±1,0 nm limit.
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