CMOS vs. CCD sensors in speckle interferometry

In the field of interferometric metrology the use of high resolution CCD sensors with 1024×1024 to 2048×2048 pixels is predominant. Due to special features (e.g. random pixel access, characteristic curve) CMOS sensors with similar resolution can be an interesting alternative. We compare some characteristics of both sensor types that are important for interferometry and demonstrate two exemplary applications that are only possible by using CMOS cameras.     

Speckle interferometry methods for displacement and strain measurements using photorefractive crystal

Photorefractive crystals offer several attractive features such as high resolution and in situ processing. As the images are erasable, these crystals are suitable for read–write applications and hence find potential use in speckle photography, image processing and holography. The barium titanate (BaTiO₃) crystal as recording medium has been extensively used as a novelty filter for real-time in-plane displacement measurements employing two-beam coupling configuration. This paper presents new optical configurations in speckle shear photography to measure in-plan displacement and the strain in real time using BaTiO₃ crystal as recording medium. Speckle photography studies are made using a simple two-beam coupling configuration. In speckle shear photography, a diffused object illuminated with two parallel narrow laser beams is imaged inside the crystal, and a pump beam is added at this plane. The speckle patterns due to each beam and the pump beam produce index gratings. When the object is deformed, the speckle patterns shift consequently. We now have four speckle fields: two generated from the interaction of pump beam with the index gratings and two pertaining to deformed states directly transmitted through the crystal. Thus, the fields from respective points on the object interfere after passage through the crystal and produce the Young's fringe patterns. Due to strain, the fringes in each pattern are of different width and orientation, resulting in the generation of a Moiré pattern. The strain is obtained from the width and orientation of the fringes in the Moiré pattern. The experiments are conducted on a specimen with a notch, which is subjected to tensile loading. The in-plane displacement is measured separately in another experiment. The above studies are carried out at Nd–Yag laser.     

Refractive index design and validation for evanescent field power maximization in optical fibre sensors

The viability and operation of evanescent field-based optical fibre sensors is largely determined by the fraction of the total supported modal field power in the evanescent field. As this fraction is highly dependent on the refractive index profile of the fibre, one design strategy for fibre sensors is to maximize this field power fraction over the class of all refractive index profiles. This paper documents this design strategy for circular geometry optical fibres, where the goal is to maximize the evanescent field power fraction for a particular mode via the selection of an optimal refractive index profile. The axially symmetric profiles obtained approximate “holey” annular structures, the performance of which can be validated using existing waveguide analysis techniques.     

Quantitative visualization of the laser induced plume behavior using quasi-heterodyne holographic interferometry

It is very important that we understand the dynamic behaviors of the laser induced plume in welding, because the laser induced plume has considerable effects on welding efficiency and the quality of materials. Many experimental studies have been performed in order to observe the plume behaviors using a visualization method. In this paper, we describe the visualization and quantification of the laser induced plumes by pulse holographic interferometry. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser was used for the generation of laser induced plume and a Q-switched Ruby laser was employed to record the weld plume. For qualitative visualization of the laser induced plume, we used the double-exposure holographic interferometry. Then, we chose the quasi-heterodyne holographic interferometry with the dual-reference-beam and phase shifting in order to visualize the plume quantitatively. The experimental results show the visible behavior of the laser induced plume according to a change in the output power of the pulsed Nd:YAG laser and the time delay of Q-switched Ruby laser. Finally, we obtained the quantitative results by using the dual-reference-beam.     

Low-cost speckle interferometry for measuring 3D deformation fields: Hardware and software

In the present paper the authors propose a portable and low-cost speckle interferometer for evaluating 3D deformation fields. The interferometer was designed and realized with the aim of carrying out measurements on small areas, hence it can be used to approach problems characterized by displacement field with highly localized gradients, such as the strain relief occurring in residual stress evaluation or the displacements which arise around notches or crack tips. The costs of the experimental equipment were reduced by employing laser diodes as light sources, a PZT actuator designed and calibrated by the authors and a control electronics realized on purpose. Moreover the configuration which was adopted allows further saving on optical components. The experimental results reported at the end of the paper, and obtained by a specimen subjected to 3D rigid body motions, show a high repeatability and accuracy. Furthermore the experimental results have shown that the geometry of the optical setup implies the variation of the sensitivity vectors on the inspected area, but this effect can be evaluated (analytically and/or experimentally) and taken into account in order to increase the accuracy of the measurements.     

Deformation field induced by spherical indentation: numerical analysis and experimental measurement by speckle interferometry

The present paper describes an experimental procedure for the measurement of the displacement field around a spherical indentation. The measurements were performed by a speckle interferometer designed for the detection on small areas of one or more oblique components of displacement; the indentations were made by a standard durometer used for metals.The experiments were carried out on a hardened and tempered steel, previously characterized by a standard tensile test; the results are in accordance with the numerical results obtained by an elasto-plastic FEM analysis.     

Measurement of sub-surface delaminations in carbon fibre composites using high-speed phase-shifted speckle interferometry and temporal phase unwrapping

A high-speed phase-shifted speckle interferometer has been developed recently for studying dynamic events. Speckle interferograms are continuously recorded by a CCD camera operating at 1 kHz with temporal phase shifting carried out by a Pockels cell running at the same frequency. Temporal phase unwrapping through sequences of more than 1000 frames allows the determination of time-varying absolute displacement maps. This paper presents the application of this speckle interferometry system to the detection and measurement of sub-surface delamination defects in carbon fibre specimens. The influence of re-referencing the temporal phase unwrapping algorithm after different time intervals is analysed to reduce the random phase errors produced by speckle decorrelation and vibration. The performance of several phase-shifting algorithms to minimize the influence of the vibration noise caused by the vacuum pump used to load the specimen is also investigated.     

Comparison of the laser ablation process on Zn and Ti using pulsed digital holographic interferometry

Pulsed digital holographic interferometry has been used to compare the laser ablation process of a Q-switched Nd-YAG laser pulse (wavelength 1064 nm, pulse duration 12 ns) on two different metals (Zn and Ti) under atmospheric air pressure. Digital holograms were recorded for different time delays using collimated laser light (532 nm) passed through the volume along the target. Numerical data of the integrated refractive index field were calculated and presented as phase maps. Intensity maps were calculated from the recorded digital holograms and are used to calculate the attenuation of the probing laser beam by the ablated plume. The different structures of the plume, namely streaks normal to the surface for Zn in contrast to absorbing regions for Ti, indicates that different mechanisms of laser ablation could happen for different metals for the same laser settings and surrounding gas. At a laser fluence of 5 J/cm², phase explosion appears to be the ablation mechanism in case of Zn, while for Ti normal vaporization seems to be the dominant mechanism.     

Fabrication of smart cutting tools with embedded optical fiber sensors using combined laser solid freeform fabrication and moulding techniques

To realize the concept of smart tools, embedding of fiber optic sensors in the metallic structure of a cutting tool with combined laser solid freeform fabrication (LSFF) and moulding is presented in this paper. Metallic parts with embedded optical fiber sensors are capable of monitoring physical parameters like force and temperature. These sensors are advantageous relative to other conventional electric and electromagnetic sensors due to their light weight, immunity to external electromagnetic fields, small size, long-term durability, and long-range linearity. In the present work, the optical fibers (e.g., fiber Bragg grating sensor, single-mode fiber optics) are moulded under tensile forces within a mild steel casing filled by Sn–Pb to fabricate a protective layer around them. Afterwards, LSFF is utilized to deposit tungsten carbide reinforced in cobalt (WC–Co) on the surface of the mild steel component. The performance results, in which the sensor exposed to a light bandwidth, show that the maximum light power loss after embedding is about 21% implying that the fiber is not damaged during the embedding process. Also, the sensor output has a linear characteristic under compression loadings indicating that the debonding of the fiber from the protective layer is not probable. The produced samples are examined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction to assess the physical properties of the tool. Microstructural images reveal no cracks and porosity around the fiber indicating a good bonding between the fiber and the surrounding media. Material characterizations of the manufactured tool are also discussed.     

Impact of an extended source in laser ablation using pulsed digital holographic interferometry and modelling

Pulsed digital holographic interferometry has been used to study the effect of the laser spot diameter on the shock wave generated in the ablation process of an Nd:YAG laser pulse on a Zn target under atmospheric pressure. For different laser spot diameters and time delays, the propagation of the expanding vapour and of the shock wave were recorded by intensity maps calculated using the recorded digital holograms. From the latter, the phase maps, the refractive index and the density field can be derived. A model was developed that approaches the density distribution, in particular the ellipsoidal expansion characteristics. The induced shock wave has an ellipsoid shape that approaches a sphere for decreasing spot diameter. The ellipsoidal shock waves have almost the same centre offset towards the laser beam and the same aspect ratio for different time steps. The model facilitates the derivation of the particle velocity field. The method provides valuable quantitative results that are discussed, in particular in comparison with the simpler point source explosion theory.     

Determination of engineering strain distribution in a rotor blade with fibre Bragg grating array and a rotary optic coupler

Structural damage occurs in materials subjected to repeated or fluctuating stresses that must be minimized by design to increase fatigue life, and strains distributed in a blade need to be experimentally determined for evaluating stress levels. In order to measure local strains in a rotating blade, efficient signal transmission between a sensor installed on a blade and a stationary interrogator is significantly important. In this paper a strain-independent fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor and a rotary optic coupler were used as means of compensating light intensity loss change arising from blade rotation. Working principles of a FBG sensor and a rotary optic coupler were detailed, and procedures for measuring local strains were also described. Eventually, strain distributions were obtained in terms of mean strain and strain amplitude. Measured strains were then directly compared with analytical ones. Experimental procedures and results offer an improved insight into a strain measurement technique for a rotating mechanical system.     

Multilayered metal oxide thin film gas sensors obtained by conventional and RF plasma-assisted laser ablation

Multilayered thin films of In₂O₃ and SnO₂ have been deposited by conventional and RF plasma-assisted reactive pulsed laser ablation, with the aim to evaluate their behaviour as toxic gas sensors. The depositions have been carried out by a frequency doubled Nd-YAG laser (λ = 532 nm, τ = 7 ns) on Si(1 0 0) substrates, in O₂ atmosphere. The thin films have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrical resistance measurements. A comparison of the electrical response of the simple (indium oxide, tin oxide) and multilayered oxides to toxic gas (nitric oxide, NO) has been performed. The influence on the structural and electrical properties of the deposition parameters, such as substrate temperature and RF power is reported.     

Testing of a scintillator and fibre optic based radiation sensor

We describe the optimisation of RadLine^®; a small, real time, remotely operated radiation detector, which consists of an inorganic scintillation crystal coupled to a fibre optic cable transporting produced photons to a CCD camera some distance away. RadLine^® is tested in a beta and gamma narrow radiation field of 2.4 GBq, from a Caesium-137 (662 KeV) source, at doses rates between 0.125 mSvhr⁻¹ and 10 mSvhr⁻¹. Our results establish that the lower limit of the device corresponds to a dose rate of 0.2 mSvhr⁻¹, constrained by the signal to noise ratio of the instrument. We also demonstrate the process of characterising the RadLine^® for utilisation underwater due to its partial electrical inactiveness; and to consider how the instrument might perform in aquatic environments and ultimately in a First Generation Magnox Storage Ponds (FGMSP). The RadLine^® brings a marked difference to actual underwater radiation monitoring devices such as; HPGe, CZT and GM detectors, which not only incorporate the whole electronics within and are more bulky, only perform over a short range. The RadLine^®’s design offers signification value for intermediate (>100 m) and long range detection.     

Statistics of the self-mixing speckle interference in a laser diode and its application to the measurement of flow velocity

The statistical analysis of self-mixing speckles interference using Fabry-Perot cavity is described based on the theory of the speckle and the self-mixing interference in a laser diode. Speckle signal processing based on Fourier transform is presented in this paper. The linear dependence between the spectrum mean frequency and velocity of solution is given by simulation and proved by experiment. The experimental results show that this speckle signal processing can be used to measure velocity of target.     

Simultaneous imaging of Mie scattering,PAHs laser induced fluorescence and soot laser induced incandescence to a lab-scale turbulent jet pulverized coal flame

In this study, transient soot formation processes in a small-scale jet burner (CRIEPI burner) were investigated by simultaneous measurements of coal particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and soot. Pairs of simultaneous measurements of “Mie scattering measurement for coal particles with laser induced fluorescence (LIF) for PAHs” and “LIF for PAHs with laser induced incandescence (LII) for soot” were performed to understand the transitive formation processes of soot formation in pulverized coal flame, whose signals were successfully separated. Findings in the present study are as follows. Coal particles, PAHs and soot were distributed in this order in radial direction from the central axis. Existing regions of coal particles, PAHs and soot were overlapped from the time averaged viewpoint while there were few overlapping areas of coal particles, PAHs and soot from the instantaneous viewpoint. This result indicates that a long time is required for the formation of soot from 2 to 3 rings PAHs through larger PAHs.     

Amplitude modulation of a low-coherence source, applications to distance and dynamic displacement sensing

The possibilities of the radio-frequency amplitude modulation of a low-coherence source for distance and displacement measurements are discussed. This intensity-based method, used within a Michelson interferometer, is a novel alternative to perform dynamic deformation measurements. The theoretical background is presented, together with the experimental verification of the principle. Besides, the results of the first quasi-dynamic tests are shown and the perspectives of the technique discussed. This method is specially useful for the dynamic monitoring of civil structures, where large measurements bases are needed. Furthermore, the application of the amplitude modulation for distance measurements is demonstrated experimentally.     

Changes induced in structure and optical properties of PM-355 nuclear track detector due to laser irradiation

PM-355 is a class of polymeric solid-state nuclear track detectors which has a lot of applications in several radiation detection fields. Samples from sheets of PM-355 have been exposed to infrared (IR) laser fluences ranging from 1 to 12.8?J/cm². The effect of IR laser radiation on the structural properties of PM-355 has been investigated using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that the samples exhibit chain scission under the effect of laser irradiation up to 4.2?J/cm², thus producing free radicals that led to the formation of new bonds started and continued until 12.8?J/cm². This reduces the ordering structure, giving the PM-355 polymer more resilience. In addition, the laser irradiation at the fluence range 4.2–12.8?J/cm² led to a more compact structure of PM-355, which resulted in an improvement in its isotropic nature with an increase in Vickers hardness and refractive index. Further, the color changes due to laser irradiation were computed using the transmission data in the wavelength range of 370–780?nm. It is found that the color intensity, which is the color difference between the irradiated samples and the non-irradiated one, increases with increasing the laser fluence, largely depending on the proportions of the blue color component.     

1 064 nm与532 nm激光对电子束蒸发制备的HfO2/SiO2高反膜损伤比较

 研究了电子束蒸发制备的HfO₂/SiO₂高反膜在1 064 nm与532 nm激光辐照下的损伤行为。基频激光辐照时损伤形貌主要为节瘤缺陷喷溅留下的锥形坑,当能量密度较大时出现分层剥落;二倍频激光损伤主要是由电子缺陷引起的平底坑,辐照脉冲能量密度稍高时也会产生吸收性缺陷引起的锥形坑,但电子缺陷的损伤阈值更低;随着辐照脉冲能量密度的增大分层剥落逐渐成为主要的损伤形貌。分析认为,辐照激光波长的变化,引起吸收机制的变化从而导致了损伤阈值及损伤机制的差异。     

Study of the fluence dependent interplay between laser induced material removal mechanisms in metals: Vaporization, melt displacement and melt ejection

Three quantitative methods, namely profilometry, high speed imaging and recoil momentum measurements using a ballistic pendulum, are used to determine the interplay of vaporization, melt displacement and melt ejection on nanosecond laser induced material removal. At low to moderate fluences (<7 J cm⁻²) material removal occurs via vaporization and melt displacement in aluminium. At high fluences (>7 J cm⁻²), material removal occurs predominantly via the explosive ejection of liquid droplets from the melt pool.