Influence of transverse effects on coherence length measurements using two-beam interferences

It has been demonstrated in a previous work (Opt. Commun. 233 (2004) 39-43), for a monochromatic laser beam, that imperfect collimation leads to systematic errors in the determination of the spectral bandwidth of a Gaussian beam. In this work, we demonstrate that such transverse effects could also make wrong the measurement of the coherence length of a non-monochromatic Gaussian beam. In addition, we have demonstrated that this systematic error is increased when the laser beam under study is made up of a mixing of spatial modes.     

Polarization beam splitter based on photonic crystal self-collimation Mach-Zehnder interferometer

A polarization beam splitter based on a self-collimation Mach-Zehnder interferometer (SMZI) in a hole-type silicon photonic crystal was proposed and numerically demonstrated. Utilizing polarization dependence of the transmission spectra of the SMZI and polarization peak matching (PPM) method, the SMZI can work as a polarization beam splitter (PBS) by selecting appropriate path length difference in the structure. Because of its intrinsic operating principle, the PBS possesses high polarization extinction ratios (PERs). As its dimensions are only several operating wavelengths, the PBS may have practical applications in photonic integrated circuits.     

Estimation of the degree of asphericity of a glass sphere using a vectorial shearing interferometer

The degree of asphericity is estimated by determining the average radius of curvature in different sections, at various points on the surface of a sphere, and the deviation from it. We employ the vectorial shearing interferometer (VSI) as the instrument to determine the radius of curvature from two subapertures of the transparent glass sphere. We incorporate the sphere as a thick lens into the interferometric setup, illuminating it with an expanded beam. The spherical aberration, introduced by the sphere in the wave front, depends on the local sphere radius, on the refraction index of the glass, and on the cone angle of the source. The wave front aberrated by the sphere impinges on the VSI. Here, the wave front is divided in two in amplitude, it is sheared vectorially, and it is superimposed with itself. The fringe pattern is formed in the intersection of the wave fronts. The shape of the resulting fringe pattern is directly related to spherical aberration. We estimate qualitatively the degree of asphericity, comparing the phase gradients in different sections of the sphere. Here, we report on the experimental setup to test the asphericity, the results with different vectorial shearing (magnitude and direction). Finally, we perform a comparison with the theoretical predictions.     

Simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature with a long-period fiber grating inscribed Sagnac interferometer

A Sagnac interferometer with a long-period fiber grating (LPG) inscribed in the polarization-maintaining fiber (PMF) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature. Due to the different responses of the LPG and the Sagnac interferometer to strain and temperature, simultaneous measurement can be achieved by monitoring the wavelength shifts and the intensity changes of a resonance dip of the sensor setup. The experimental results show that the achieved sensitivities to strain and temperature are 6.4 × 10^− 3 dB/με and 0.65 nm/°C, respectively.     

Two-dimensional cell parameters measurement of nematic liquid crystal using optical interferometry and Fourier transform fringe analysis technique

We report a method for the measurement of nematic liquid crystal (NLC) cell parameters i.e., switching voltage, birefringence, retardation, dielectric anisotropy, average tilt angle and change in refractive index with applied DC voltage to LC material. The proposed method is based on optical interferometry and Fourier transform fringe analysis technique, in which we obtain 2-dimensional (2D) phase map of the interferograms as a function of applied voltage. Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) was used for the study of cell parameters and interferograms were recorded at different applied DC voltages to NLC cell using CCD camera. From the phase map, 2D-refractive index distribution of the LC cell with applied voltage was reconstructed. Analytical equations are derived based on optical interferometry and then solved to obtain cell parameters. The present method is fast and can give 2D-cell parameters from only two quick interferograms.     

Instantaneous frequency measurement based on complementary microwave photonic filters with a shared Mach-Zehnder interferometer

A novel configuration using only one Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) for photonic-assisted instantaneous microwave frequency measurement is proposed. The amplitude comparison function (ACF), related to the input microwave frequency while independent of the input optical power and modulate index, is achieved by using a ratio of low-pass to bandpass frequency responses introduced by intensity and phase modulation with a shared MZI. The microwave frequency can be estimated by the measured ACF. A proof-of-concept experiment for measurement of RF from 5 to 10 GHz is successfully demonstrated with the measurement errors less than ± 0.2 GHz.     

A novel method for measuring optical fiber delay lines based on the optical fiber low-coherence Young's interferometer

According to the principle of double-beam interference imaging using an infrared broadband light source, a novel method based on the optical fiber low-coherence Young's interferometer for the measurement of programmable optical fiber delay line is proposed. By measuring the small length increments of delay fiber through the evaluation of the central positions of zero-order interference fringes, we successfully construct a system with a variety of important functions, such as real-time controlling, measurement and displaying. This system offers the benefit that it can be regulated precisely to generate interference stripes once again after the length of fiber segment changes. When the locations of central stripes are moved to coincide with the original markers, the determination of the corresponding fiber optical delay time becomes really simplified, as just by reading out the tinny displacement of the reference arm. Multiple groups of experimental results demonstrate the outstanding performance of the proposed system since it bears a measuring accuracy of μm and a measuring range from 1 mm to 20 cm.     

激光干涉测速技术在内弹道弹丸速度测量中的应用研究

 利用任意反射面激光干涉测速（VISAR）系统以及全光纤位移干涉仪（FDI）,测量了线膛炮弹丸速度,获得了线膛炮弹丸在0~491 μs内从零加速到140 m/s的速度历史,弹丸运动了20.7 mm,出炮口时的弹丸速度为817 m/s。实验结果表明,影响激光干涉测速技术在内弹道测量中应用的主要因素是炮口烟。研究结果对于深入探索激光干涉测速技术在内弹道测量中的应用有重要的参考意义。     

辐射驱动条件下冲击波速度直接测量技术

 针对超高压下透明材料的高压离化机理,分析了透明材料中冲击波直接诊断技术的基本方法。利用Drude自由电子气模型,分析了不同冲击压力下冲击波阵面反射率的变化。设计了专门的实验,将探测器致盲区与信号区错开,获得了蓝宝石中冲击波阵面反射的信号。结果表明:冲击波速度为32 km/s时,其波阵面的反射率约为35%,致盲效应出现时间与激光脉冲峰值到达时刻相同,持续时间也与激光脉宽相同。分析了致盲应产生的原因,并提出了解决办法。给出了加蓝宝石窗口后的测速公式,经过和实验对比,确认了测速公式的正确性。     

基于神光Ⅲ原型装置的成像型任意反射面速度干涉仪

 介绍了基于神光Ⅲ原型装置的成像型任意反射面速度干涉仪(VISAR)的系统结构和实验结果,详细阐述了为解决VISAR系统的光路对接调试、干涉仪零程差状态保持、探针激光方式、条纹相机触发时间等问题而采取的特殊手段。对系统性能进行了测试,结果表明:时间分辨力优于30 ps,空间分辨力优于10 μm,测速范围为10~50 km·s^-1。通过神光Ⅲ原型装置进行打靶实验,结果表明:该系统能获得透明材料中冲击波作用形成的清晰干涉条纹,能依据条纹分布情况来判断冲击波在空间不同位置的作用情况。对双灵敏度结构获得的两幅条纹图像进行处理,计算得到了冲击波在透明材料中的传播速度为36.5 km·s^-1。