Fast and accurate measurement of large optical surfaces before polishing using a laser tracker

Analysis of glass homogeneity using the attaching interferometric data model neglects body distribution.To improve analysis accuracy,we establish the three-dimensional gradient index(GRIN) model of glass index by analyzing fused silica homogeneity distribution in two perpendicular measurement directions.Using the GRIN model,a lithography projection lens with a numerical aperture of 0.75 is analyzed.Root mean square wavefront aberration deteriorates from 0.9 to 9.65 nm and then improves to 5.9 nm after clocking.     

Accurate measurement of large optical frequency differences with a mode-locked laser

We have used the comb of optical frequencies emitted by a mode-locked laser as a ruler to measure differences of as much as 20 THz between laser frequencies. This is to our knowledge the largest gap measured with a frequency comb, with high potential for further improvements. To check the accuracy of this approach we show that the modes are distributed uniformly in frequency space within the experimental limit of 3.0 parts in 10(17) . By comparison with an optical frequency comb generator we have verified that the mode separation equals the pulse repetition rate within the experimental limit of 6.0 parts in 10(16).     

Sensitive birefringence measurement in a high-finesse resonator using diode laser optical self-locking

We demonstrate a new method to measure weak birefringence of dielectric mirrors with excellent spatial resolution and sensitivity (<10^-7 radians). We exploit a well-known optical feedback scheme for line-width narrowing and frequency locking of a diode laser to a high-finesse cavity. Feedback comes from the intracavity field which builds up at resonance, selected by its change in polarization with respect to the incident field. This change, due to the residual birefringence of the cavity mirror coatings, was already exploited for birefringence measurements using an active laser-locking scheme. Here we measure the optical feedback rate as a function of rotation angle of one of the cavity mirrors (around the cavity axis). A stable feedback signal is obtained since the laser, as soon as it locks to a cavity resonance, effectively behaves as a monochromatic source. By fitting the data with a theoretical expression, we determine quantitatively the local birefringence vectors of both mirrors, which are around 10^-6 radians. Our scheme is simple, works with cavities of very high finesse (F∼10⁵), and is promising for measuring birefringence in gases induced by external fields. Received: 18 July 2001 / Final version: 14 March 2002 / Published online: 8 May 2002     

光学平面绝对检验方法的研究

应用两种方法对三个高精度平面进行了测试。第一种方法是Fritz的三面互检法,它利用Zernike多项式的特性拟合三个面四次组合测量得到的干涉图,然后求出三个面的Zernike多项式系数,从而得到三个面的面形偏差。第二种方法是奇偶函数法,根据函数的奇偶性,把平面的面形函数分解为四类:偶奇、奇偶、偶偶和奇奇函数,分别求出各分量,从而得到三个面的三维面形偏差。对两种方法都编制了理论模拟和实测程序,并进行了实验,实现了无参考面的高精度平面面形测试。     

Fast simultaneous measurement of multi-gases using quantum cascade laser photoacoustic spectroscopy

The authors developed a fast simultaneous method in detecting multi-gases using quantum cascade laser (QCL) based photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy. We demonstrated the simultaneous measurement of CO and SO₂ concentrations using two QCLs working at 4.56 and 7.38 μm, corresponding to the absorption bands of CO and SO₂, respectively. The modulation frequencies of the two QCLs were 234 and 244 Hz. The response time was 0.6 seconds. A computer sound card was used to process the PA signals. Fast Fourier transform was an essential step to get the amplitudes of the PA signals at different frequencies. The concentration of each gas can be obtained from the PA signal amplitude at the corresponding modulation frequency.     

Simple and highly accurate technique for time delay measurement in optical fibers by free-running laser configuration

A novel and simple technique for the measurement of time delay in the optical fiber by a free-running laser is proposed and demonstrated. The fiber to be measured was spliced to an erbium-doped fiber so as to form a ring-cavity laser. The mode beating frequency of the laser was measured to determine the round-trip time delay. This precise and efficient technique has an accuracy of 10(-8) for a fiber length of 100 km and of 10(-6) for a several-meters-long one.     

Fast and accurate reflectivity calculations for shaped core optical fibres

A novel scalar (i.e. paraxial) free space radiation mode method is presented for calculating the normal incidence facet reflectivity of the main guided mode of a step-index optical fibre with generally shaped smooth core. Numerical results are presented and discussed for several cases of the Nth order super-elliptical core shape, including the circular, elliptical, rectangular-type and slab limiting cases.     

Velocity measurement by the laser speckle method using optical fibres

An optical device for in-plane velocity measurement is described. Laser light is focused by the use of an optical fibre onto the object, and the device utilizes the dynamic sparkle effect for velocity determination. The influence of different optical fibres on the speckle formation is investigated with special respect to fibre movement, and as the diameter of the aperture used for speckle detection also affects the measuring signal, an optimum value is found. A simple electronic circuit processes the measuring value proportional to the object velocity.     

Frequency stability measurement of a transfer-cavity-stabilized diode laser by using an optical frequency comb

We report results of frequency stability measurements of an extended cavity diode laser (ECDL) whose frequency is stabilized by a non-evacuated scanning transfer cavity. The transfer cavity is locked to a commercial frequency stabilized helium–neon laser. Frequency stability is measured by use of an optical frequency comb. The environmental perturbations (variations of temperature, air pressure, and humidity) are also simultaneously measured. The observed frequency drift of the ECDL is well explained by environmental perturbations. An atmospheric pressure variation, which is difficult to control with a non-evacuated cavity, is mainly affected to the frequency stability. Thus we put the cavity into a simple O-ring sealed (non-evacuated) tube. With this simple O-ring sealed tube, the frequency drift is reduced by a factor of 3, and the Allan variance reaches a value of 2.4×10⁻¹⁰, corresponds to the frequency stability of 83 kHz, at the average time of 3000 s. Since the actual frequency drift is well estimated by simultaneous measurement of the ambient temperature, pressure, and humidity, a feed-forward compensation of frequency drifts is also feasible in order to achieve a higher frequency stability with a simple non-evacuated transfer cavity.     

Monitoring foam coarsening using a computer optical mouse as a dynamic laser speckle measurement sensor

In this paper, we present an experimental approach to track coarsening process of foam using a computer optical mouse as a dynamic laser speckle measurement sensor. The dynamics of foam coarsening and rearrangement events cause changes in the intensity of laser speckle backscattered from the foam. A strong negative correlation between the average speed of the cursor and the evolution of bubble diameter was found. We used microscopic images to demonstrate that decrease in speed is related to increase in bubble size. The proposed set-up is not very expensive, is highly portable and can be used in laboratory measurements of dynamics in other kinds of opaque materials.     

平面和曲面光学零件气囊抛光材料去除的比较研究

气囊数控抛光是近年来一种新兴的先进光学制造技术,采用柔性的气囊作为抛光工具并以进动的方式进行加工。首先简要阐述了气囊抛光的抛光原理,然后针对平面和曲面光学零件,在自行研制的气囊抛光实验样机上进行了抛光实验。被抛光光学元件的材料去除是在抛光区内实现的。研究了进动角、气囊压缩量、气囊内部压力、气囊转速、抛光时间以及工件的曲率半径几种重要的工艺参数对平面工件和球面工件抛光接触区大小和形状影响情况的异同。在此基础上,总结了气囊抛光材料去除的影响规律。给出了几种重要工艺参数在平面工件和球面工件上取值范围。     

A phase sensitive optical rotation measurement in a scattered chiral medium using a Zeeman laser

A novel circular polarized optical heterodyne interferometer using a Zeeman laser to measure optical rotation both in nonscattered and scattered chiral medium is proposed. A pair of correlated orthogonal circular polarized light waves of different temporal frequency propagating in the chiral medium at different speed is studied. This results in phase retardation between circular polarized light waves of which the phase difference is proportional to the optical rotation angle of a linear polarized light in a chiral medium. In the mean time, two orthogonal circular polarized light waves can be treated as a circular polarized photon pair that is able to reduce the scattering effect in a scattered chiral medium. Then the optical rotation angle can be measured in the scattering medium. In addition, a common-path configuration with respect to circular polarized light waves immune the background noise. This further improves the sensitivity on optical rotation measurement based on phase difference detection.     

共光路外差干涉法精密测量光学表面

报道了光学外差法测量表面起伏精度及横向分辨精度达到０．１１ｎｍ及４μｍ。本文采用的是完全共光路外差干涉系统，阐述了它的原理、构造及噪声的影响，并将测量结果与其它商品仪器测量结果作了比较。     

采用可见光源和分划板快速装调激光光路

 分析了激光测量光路的特点和装校要求,给出了采用可见光源、分划板装校激光光路的原理。以预放测量模块为例,介绍了装校的流程及装校中的注意事项,分析了装校所能达到的精度,并用内调焦望远镜进行了装校精度检查。结果表明,采用可见光源、分划板装校的激光光路透镜光轴正过心的偏心极限误差小于等于0.07 mm,光轴倾斜极限误差小于等于25″。     

激光法红外热像镜组中心偏测量与调校研究

论述了多镜片成像光学镜组中心偏的理论表征 ,以及自准反射旋转法测量中心偏的原理。设计了用于红外光学镜组的中心偏检测系统。系统包括用于 8～ 14 μm红外光学系统中心偏测量的CO2 激光 ;可调焦望远镜 ;采用TGS热释电热像仪与计算机配合的数据读出及处理系统 ;径向跳动≤ 1μm ,轴向晃动≤ 1″的高精密基准轴工作台。系统测量中心偏精度为 :角度≤ 2″ ,线度≤ 0 .0 2mm。给出了中心偏数据处理程序。系统也可用于在线装校 ,更换光源 (用He Ne激光代替CO2 激光 )系统可用于 3～ 5 μm红外光学系统的测量。进一步改进并利用激光的相干特性 ,系统可实现中心偏测量精度≤ 1μm。     

Endoscopic optical probe with a PZT actuator and MR tracker

A miniaturized optical probe with a magnetic-resistance (MR) position tracker and piezoelectric-transduce (PZT) mirror system was developed for endoscopic optical imaging. All of the optical components such as collimation and focal lenses, reflection mirror, PZT linear actuator and MR sensor were wholly packaged in a single scanning probe with a volume of 3.57 cm³. This endoscopic probe has the advantages of having a small volume, extended stroke length (4.5 mm), high scanning speed (18.2 mm/s), efficient recoupling ratio (78.3%) and high spatial resolution (11.7 μm) compared to conventional endoscopes. Consequently, it showed the potential for improving the endoscopic imaging system and utilizing the image-guided robotic surgery system.     

线性调频半导体激光器实现大尺寸静态、动态测距

提高大型机电设备的加工水平，动态在线测量是关键。将线性调频半导体激光器应用于动态测量，对目标的位置及移动的速度、加速度等实现准实时测量，可对加工过程实现动态补偿；依靠系统的自校准，消除半导体激光器的老化对激光波长的影响，使得测量精度得以保证，进而使其实用化成为可能；待测的参数是拍频的频率，即测量精度与半导体激光器的输出光功率无关，加之频率是数字量，便于和微机相连组成自动测控系统。系统静态相对测量精度为３×１０－４。整个测量系统体积小、结构简单，便于实现生产和现场安装，可广泛应用于大型机电设备的静态、动态测量。     

Hybrid measurement system including optical heterodyne and laser microscopy functions using an acoustooptic deflector

The construction of a hybrid measurement system for measuring lateral and vertical dimensions and its applications to industrial inspection are described. This system uses an acoustooptic deflector, and includes optical heterodyne, confocal and non confocal laser scan microscopy functions in one and the same optical device. These functions are used individually or collectively depending on the purpose of the measurement. For example, by using the optical heterodyne and non confocal microscopy functions at the same time, lateral and vertical dimensions can be measured simultaneously.     

Selective aggregation of single-walled carbon nanotubes using the large optical field gradient of a focused laser beam

We demonstrate the selective aggregation of single-walled carbon nanotubes by photon forces, using the large optical field gradient of a laser focused through a high numerical aperture objective lens. The nanotubes, dispersed in an aqueous solution with a surfactant, are detected via Raman scattering from the confocal volume of the optical trap. By using a visible-light laser for both trapping and detection, the dynamics of the radial breathing mode signal taken at short intervals shows an increase of a single breathing mode over time, indicating the increase in the density of only one species of tube in the focal volume. This result represents a significant step toward the development of techniques for the arbitrary manipulation and sorting of nanotubes by optical fields.     

Controllable optical delay line using a Brillouin optical fiber ring laser

A controllable optical delay line using a Brillouin optical fiber ring laser is demonstrated and a large timedelay is obtained by cascading two optical fiber segments. In experiment, a single-mode Brillouin opticalfiber ring laser is used to provide Stokes wave as probe wave. We achieve a maximum tunable time delayof 61 ns using two cascading optical fiber segments, about 1.5 times of the input probe pulse width of 40ns. In the meantime, a considerable pulse broadening is observed, which agrees well with the theoreticalprediction based on linear theory.