Broadband Achromatic Phase Shifter for a Nulling Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bolcar, Matthew R.; Lyon, Richard G.

2011-01-01

Nulling interferometry is a technique for imaging exoplanets in which light from the parent star is suppressed using destructive interference. Light from the star is divided into two beams and a phase shift of radians is introduced into one of the beams. When the beams are recombined, they destructively interfere to produce a deep null. For monochromatic light, this is implemented by introducing an optical path difference (OPD) between the two beams equal to lambda/2, where lambda is the wavelength of the light. For broadband light, however, a different phase shift will be introduced at each wavelength and the two beams will not effectively null when recombined. Various techniques have been devised to introduce an achromatic phase shift a phase shift that is uniform across a particular bandwidth. One popular technique is to use a series of dispersive elements to introduce a wavelength-dependent optical path in one or both of the arms of the interferometer. By intelligently choosing the number, material and thickness of a series of glass plates, a nearly uniform, arbitrary phase shift can be introduced between two arms of an interferometer. There are several constraints that make choosing the number, type, and thickness of materials a difficult problem, such as the size of the bandwidth to be nulled. Several solutions have been found for bandwidths on the order of 20 to 30 percent (Delta(lambda)/lambda(sub c)) in the mid-infrared region. However, uniform phase shifts over a larger bandwidth in the visible regime between 480 to 960 nm (67 percent) remain difficult to obtain at the tolerances necessary for exoplanet detection. A configuration of 10 dispersive glass plates was developed to be used as an achromatic phase shifter in nulling interferometry. Five glass plates were placed in each arm of the interferometer and an additional vacuum distance was also included in the second arm of the interferometer. This configuration creates a phase shift of pi radians with an average error of 5.97 x 10(exp -8) radians and standard deviation of 3.07 x 10(exp -4) radians. To reduce ghost reflections and interference effects from neighboring elements, the glass plates are tilted such that the beam does not strike each plate at normal incidence. Reflections will therefore walk out of the system and not contribute to the intensity when the beams are recombined. Tilting the glass plates, however, introduces several other problems that must be mitigated: (1) the polarization of a beam changes when refracted at an interface at non-normal incidence; (2) the beam experiences lateral chromatic spread as it traverses multiple glass plates; (3) at each surface, wavelength- dependent intensity losses will occur due to reflection. For a fixed angle of incidence, each of these effects must be balanced between each arm of the interferometer in order to ensure a deep null. The solution was found using a nonlinear optimization routine that minimized an objective function relating phase shift, intensity difference, chromatic beam spread, and polarization difference to the desired parameters: glass plate material and thickness. In addition to providing a uniform, broadband phase shift, the configuration achieves an average difference in intensity transmission between the two arms of the interferometer of 0.016 percent with a standard deviation of 3.64 x 10(exp -4) percent, an average difference in polarization between the two arms of the interferometer of 5.47 x 10(exp -5) percent with a standard deviation of 1.57 x 10(exp -6) percent, and an average chromatic beam shift between the two arms of the interferometer of -47.53 microns with a wavelength-by-wavelength spread of 0.389 microns.

Development of measurement system for gauge block interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chomkokard, S.; Jinuntuya, N.; Wongkokua, W.

2017-09-01

We developed a measurement system for collecting and analyzing the fringe pattern images from a gauge block interferometer. The system was based on Raspberry Pi which is an open source system with python programming and opencv image manipulation library. The images were recorded by the Raspberry Pi camera with five-megapixel capacity. The noise of images was suppressed for the best result in analyses. The low noise images were processed to find the edge of fringe patterns using the contour technique for the phase shift analyses. We tested our system with the phase shift patterns between a gauge block and a reference plate. The phase shift patterns were measured by a Twyman-Green type of interferometer using the He-Ne laser with the temperature controlled at 20.0 °C. The results of the measurement will be presented and discussed.

Development of CO2 laser dispersion interferometer with photoelastic modulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akiyama, T.; Kawahata, K.; Okajima, S.; Nakayama, K.

2010-10-01

A dispersion interferometer is one of the promising methods of the electron density measurement on large and high density fusion devices. This paper describes development of a CO2 laser dispersion interferometer with a photoelastic modulator for phase modulation. In order to make the dispersion interferometer free from variations of the detected intensity, a new phase extraction method is introduced: The phase shift is evaluated from a ratio of amplitudes of the fundamental and the second harmonics of the phase modulation frequency in the detected interference signal. The proof-of-principle experiments demonstrate the feasibility of this method.

Development of CO2 laser dispersion interferometer with photoelastic modulator.

PubMed

Akiyama, T; Kawahata, K; Okajima, S; Nakayama, K

2010-10-01

A dispersion interferometer is one of the promising methods of the electron density measurement on large and high density fusion devices. This paper describes development of a CO(2) laser dispersion interferometer with a photoelastic modulator for phase modulation. In order to make the dispersion interferometer free from variations of the detected intensity, a new phase extraction method is introduced: The phase shift is evaluated from a ratio of amplitudes of the fundamental and the second harmonics of the phase modulation frequency in the detected interference signal. The proof-of-principle experiments demonstrate the feasibility of this method.

Development of Michelson interferometer based spatial phase-shift digital shearography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Xin

Digital shearography is a non-contact, full field, optical measurement method, which has the capability of directly measuring the gradient of deformation. For high measurement sensitivity, phase evaluation method has to be introduced into digital shearography by phase-shift technique. Catalog by phase-shift method, digital phase-shift shearography can be divided into Temporal Phase-Shift Digital Shearography (TPS-DS) and Spatial Phase-Shift Digital Shearography (SPS-DS). TPS-DS is the most widely used phase-shift shearography system, due to its simple algorithm, easy operation and good phase-map quality. However, the application of TPS-DS is only limited in static/step-by-step loading measurement situation, due to its multi-step shifting process. In order to measure the strain under dynamic/continuous loading situation, a SPS-DS system has to be developed. This dissertation aims to develop a series of Michelson Interferometer based SPS-DS measurement methods to achieve the strain measurement by using only a single pair of speckle pattern images. The Michelson Interferometer based SPS-DS systems utilize special designed optical setup to introduce extra carrier frequency into the laser wavefront. The phase information corresponds to the strain field can be separated on the Fourier domain using a Fourier Transform and can further be evaluated with a Windowed Inverse Fourier Transform. With different optical setups and carrier frequency arrangements, the Michelson Interferometer based SPS-DS method is capable to achieve a variety of measurement tasks using only single pair of speckle pattern images. Catalog by the aimed measurand, these capable measurement tasks can be divided into five categories: 1) measurement of out-of-plane strain field with small shearing amount; 2) measurement of relative out-of-plane deformation field with big shearing amount; 3) simultaneous measurement of relative out-of-plane deformation field and deformation gradient field by using multiple carrier frequencies; 4) simultaneous measurement of two directional strain field using dual measurement channels 5) measurement of pure in-plane strain and pure out-of-plane strain with multiple carrier frequencies. The basic theory, optical path analysis, preliminary studies, results analysis and research plan are shown in detail in this dissertation.

Digital Phase Meter for a Laser Heterodyne Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loya, Frank

2008-01-01

The Digital Phase Meter is based on a modified phase-locked loop. When phase alignment between the reference input and the phase-shifted metrological input is achieved, the loop locks and the phase shift of the digital phase shifter equals the phase difference that one seeks to measure. This digital phase meter is being developed for incorporation into a laser heterodyne interferometer in a metrological apparatus, but could also be adapted to other uses. Relative to prior phase meters of similar capability, including digital ones, this digital phase meter is smaller, less complex, and less expensive. The phase meter has been constructed and tested in the form of a field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

4D measurements of biological and synthetic structures using a dynamic interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toto-Arellano, Noel-Ivan

2017-12-01

Considering the deficiency of time elapsed for phase-stepping interferometric techniques and the need of developing non-contact and on-line measurement with high accuracy, a single-shot phase-shifting triple-interferometer (PSTI) is developed for analysis of characteristics of transparent structures and optical path difference (OPD) measurements. In the proposed PSTI, coupled three interferometers which generate four interference patterns, and a polarizer array is used as phase shifters to produce four spatially separated interferograms with π/2-phase shifts, which are recorded in a single capture by a camera. The configuration of the PSTI allows dynamic measurements (4D measurements) and does not require vibration isolation. We have applied the developed system to examine the size and OPD of cells, and the slope of thin films

Application of Twin Beams in Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhang, J. X.; Xie, C. D.; Peng, K. C.

1996-01-01

Using the twin beams generated from parametric amplifier to drive the two port of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, it is shown that the minimum detectable optical phase shift can be largly reduced to the Heisenberg limit(1/n) which is far below the Shot Noise Limit(1/square root of n) the large gain limit. The dependence of the minimum detectable phase shift on parametric gain and the inefficient photodetectors has been discussed.

Phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer mask designs

DOEpatents

Goldberg, Kenneth Alan

2001-01-01

In a phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer, different image-plane mask designs can improve the operation of the interferometer. By keeping the test beam window of the mask small compared to the separation distance between the beams, the problem of energy from the reference beam leaking through the test beam window is reduced. By rotating the grating and mask 45.degree., only a single one-dimensional translation stage is required for phase-shifting. By keeping two reference pinholes in the same orientation about the test beam window, only a single grating orientation, and thus a single one-dimensional translation stage, is required. The use of a two-dimensional grating allows for a multiplicity of pinholes to be used about the pattern of diffracted orders of the grating at the mask. Orientation marks on the mask can be used to orient the device and indicate the position of the reference pinholes.

Precision improving of double beam shadow moiré interferometer by phase shifting interferometry for the stress of flexible substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Kuo-Ting; Chen, Hsi-Chao; Lin, Ssu-Fan; Lin, Ke-Ming; Syue, Hong-Ye

2012-09-01

While tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) has been extensively applied in flexible electronics, the problem of the residual stress has many obstacles to overcome. This study investigated the residual stress of flexible electronics by the double beam shadow moiré interferometer, and focused on the precision improvement with phase shifting interferometry (PSI). According to the out-of-plane displacement equation, the theoretical error depends on the grating pitch and the angle between incident light and CCD. The angle error could be reduced to 0.03% by the angle shift of 10° as a result of the double beam interferometer was a symmetrical system. But the experimental error of the double beam moiré interferometer still reached to 2.2% by the noise of the vibration and interferograms. In order to improve the measurement precision, PSI was introduced to the double shadow moiré interferometer. Wavefront phase was reconstructed by the five interferograms with the Hariharan algorithm. The measurement results of standard cylinder indicating the error could be reduced from 2.2% to less than 1% with PSI. The deformation of flexible electronic could be reconstructed fast and calculated the residual stress with the Stoney correction formula. This shadow moiré interferometer with PSI could improve the precision of residual stress for flexible electronics.

A second-generation liquid crystal phase-shifting point-diffraction interferometer employing structured substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marshall, Kenneth L.; Adlesberger, Kathleen; Kolodzie, Benjamin; Myhre, Graham; Griffin, DeVon W.

2005-08-01

By design, point-diffraction interferometers are much less sensitive to environmental disturbances than dual-path interferometers, but, until very recently, have not been capable of phase shifting. The liquid crystal point-diffraction interferometer (LCPDI) utilizes a dye-doped, liquid crystal (LC) electro-optical device that functions as both the point-diffraction source and the phase-shifting element, yielding a phase-shifting diagnostic device that is significantly more compact and robust while using fewer optical elements than conventional dual-path interferometers. These attributes make the LCPDI of special interest for diagnostic applications in the scientific, commercial, military, and industrial sectors, where vibration insensitivity, power requirements, size, weight, and cost are critical issues. Until very recently, LCPDI devices have used a plastic microsphere embedded in the LC fluid layer as the point-diffraction source. The process for fabricating microsphere-based LCPDI devices is low-yield, labor-intensive, and very "hands-on" great care and skill are required to produce devices with adequate interference fringe contrast for diagnostic measurements. With the goal of evolving the LCPDI beyond the level of a laboratory prototype in mind, we have developed "second-generation" LCPDI devices in which the reference-diffracting elements are an integral part of the substrates by depositing a suitable optical material (vapor-deposited thin films or photoresist) directly onto the substrate surface. These "structured" substrates eliminate many of the assembly difficulties and performance limitations of current LCPDI devices as well as open the possibility of mass-producing LCPDI devices at low cost by the same processes used to manufacture commercial LC displays.

Fizeau simultaneous phase-shifting interferometry based on extended source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shanshan; Zhu, Qiudong; Hou, Yinlong; Cao, Zheng

2016-09-01

Coaxial Fizeau simultaneous phase-shifting interferometer plays an important role in many fields for its characteristics of long optical path, miniaturization, and elimination of reference surface high-frequency error. Based on the matching of coherence between extended source and interferometer, orthogonal polarization reference wave and measurement wave can be obtained by Fizeau interferometry with Michelson interferometer preposed. Through matching spatial coherence length between preposed interferometer and primary interferometer, high contrast interference fringes can be obtained and additional interference fringes can be eliminated. Thus, the problem of separation of measurement and reference surface in the common optical path Fizeau interferometer is solved. Numerical simulation and principle experiment is conducted to verify the feasibility of extended source interferometer. Simulation platform is established by using the communication technique of DDE (dynamic data exchange) to connect Zemax and Matlab. The modeling of the extended source interferometer is realized by using Zemax. Matlab codes are programmed to automatically rectify the field parameters of the optical system and conveniently calculate the visibility of interference fringes. Combined with the simulation, the experimental platform of the extended source interferometer is established. After experimental research on the influence law of scattering screen granularity to interference fringes, the granularity of scattering screen is determined. Based on the simulation platform and experimental platform, the impacts on phase measurement accuracy of the imaging system aberration and collimation system aberration of the interferometer are analyzed. Compared the visibility relation curves between experimental measurement and simulation result, the experimental result is in line with the theoretical result.

Dual-phase-shift spherical Fizeau interferometer for reduction of noise due to internally scattered light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumagai, Toshiki; Hibino, Kenichi; Nagaike, Yasunari

2017-03-01

Internally scattered light in a Fizeau interferometer is generated from dust, defects, imperfect coating of the optical components, and multiple reflections inside the collimator lens. It produces additional noise fringes in the observed interference image and degrades the repeatability of the phase measurement. A method to reduce the phase measurement error is proposed, in which the test surface is mechanically translated between each phase measurement in addition to an ordinary phase shift of the reference surface. It is shown that a linear combination of several measured phases at different test surface positions can reduce the phase errors caused by the scattered light. The combination can also compensate for the nonuniformity of the phase shift that occurs in spherical tests. A symmetric sampling of the phase measurements can cancel the additional primary spherical aberrations that occur when the test surface is out of the null position of the confocal configuration.

Simultaneous phase-shifting interferometry study based on the common-path Fizeau interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Feng-wei; Wu, Yong-qian

2014-09-01

A simultaneous phase-shifting interferometry(SPSI) based on the common-path Fizeau interferometer has been discussed.In this system,two orthogonal polarized beams, using as the reference beam and test beam ,are detached by a particular Wollaston prism at a very small angle,then four equal sub-beams are achieved by a combination of three non-polarizing beam splitters(NPBS),and the phase shifts are introduced by four polarizers whose polarization azimuths are 0°, 45°, 90°, 135° with the horizontal direction respectively,the four phase shift interferograms are collected simultaneously by controlling the CCDs working at the same time .The SPSI principle is studied at first,then is the error analysis, finally we emulate the process of surface recovery by four steps phase shifts algorithm,the results indicate that, to ensure the feasibility of the SPSI system, we have to control the polarization azimuth error of the polarizer in +/- 0.5°.

Phase shifts in the Fourier spectra of phase gratings and phase grids: an application for one-shot phase-shifting interferometry.

PubMed

Toto-Arellano, Noel-Ivan; Rodriguez-Zurita, Gustavo; Meneses-Fabian, Cruz; Vazquez-Castillo, Jose F

2008-11-10

Among several techniques, phase shifting interferometry can be implemented with a grating used as a beam divider to attain several interference patterns around each diffraction order. Because each pattern has to show a different phase-shift, a suitable shifting technique must be employed. Phase gratings are attractive to perform the former task due to their higher diffraction efficiencies. But as is very well known, the Fourier coefficients of only-phase gratings are integer order Bessel functions of the first kind. The values of these real-valued functions oscillate around zero, so they can adopt negative values, thereby introducing phase shifts of pi at certain diffraction orders. Because this almost trivial fact seems to have been overlooked in the literature regarding its practical implications, in this communication such phase shifts are stressed in the description of interference patterns obtained with grating interferometers. These patterns are obtained by placing two windows in the object plane of a 4f system with a sinusoidal grating/grid in the Fourier plane. It is shown that the corresponding experimental observations of the fringe modulation, as well as the corresponding phase measurements, are all in agreement with the proposed description. A one-shot phase shifting interferometer is finally proposed taking into account these properties after proper incorporation of modulation of polarization.

Design of a dispersion interferometer combined with a polarimeter to increase the electron density measurement reliability on ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akiyama, T.; Sirinelli, A.; Watts, C.; Shigin, P.; Vayakis, G.; Walsh, M.

2016-11-01

A dispersion interferometer is a reliable density measurement system and is being designed as a complementary density diagnostic on ITER. The dispersion interferometer is inherently insensitive to mechanical vibrations, and a combined polarimeter with the same line of sight can correct fringe jump errors. A proof of the principle of the CO2 laser dispersion interferometer combined with the PEM polarimeter was recently conducted, where the phase shift and the polarization angle were successfully measured simultaneously. Standard deviations of the line-average density and the polarization angle measurements over 1 s are 9 × 1016 m-2 and 0.19°, respectively, with a time constant of 100 μs. Drifts of the zero point, which determine the resolution in steady-state operation, correspond to 0.25% and 1% of the phase shift and the Faraday rotation angle expected on ITER.

Design of a dispersion interferometer combined with a polarimeter to increase the electron density measurement reliability on ITER.

PubMed

Akiyama, T; Sirinelli, A; Watts, C; Shigin, P; Vayakis, G; Walsh, M

2016-11-01

A dispersion interferometer is a reliable density measurement system and is being designed as a complementary density diagnostic on ITER. The dispersion interferometer is inherently insensitive to mechanical vibrations, and a combined polarimeter with the same line of sight can correct fringe jump errors. A proof of the principle of the CO 2 laser dispersion interferometer combined with the PEM polarimeter was recently conducted, where the phase shift and the polarization angle were successfully measured simultaneously. Standard deviations of the line-average density and the polarization angle measurements over 1 s are 9 × 10 16 m -2 and 0.19°, respectively, with a time constant of 100 μs. Drifts of the zero point, which determine the resolution in steady-state operation, correspond to 0.25% and 1% of the phase shift and the Faraday rotation angle expected on ITER.

Liquid-Crystal Point-Diffraction Interferometer for Wave-Front Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mercer, Carolyn R.; Creath, Katherine

1996-01-01

A new instrument, the liquid-crystal point-diffraction interferometer (LCPDI), is developed for the measurement of phase objects. This instrument maintains the compact, robust design of Linnik's point-diffraction interferometer and adds to it a phase-stepping capability for quantitative interferogram analysis. The result is a compact, simple to align, environmentally insensitive interferometer capable of accurately measuring optical wave fronts with very high data density and with automated data reduction. We describe the theory and design of the LCPDI. A focus shift was measured with the LCPDI, and the results are compared with theoretical results,

Phase-Shifting Liquid Crystal Interferometers for Microgravity Fluid Physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Griffin, DeVon W.; Marshall, Keneth L.

2002-01-01

The initial focus of this project was to eliminate both of these problems in the Liquid Crystal Point-Diffraction Interferometer (LCPDI). Progress toward that goal will be described, along with the demonstration of a phase shifting Liquid Crystal Shearing Interferometer (LCSI) that was developed as part of this work. The latest LCPDI, other than a lens to focus the light from a test section onto a diffracting microsphere within the interferometer and a collimated laser for illumination, the pink region contained within the glass plates on the rod-mounted platform is the complete interferometer. The total width is approximately 1.5 inches with 0.25 inches on each side for bonding the electrical leads. It is 1 inch high and there are only four diffracting microspheres within the interferometer. As a result, it is very easy to align, achieving the first goal. The liquid crystal electro-optical response time is a function of layer thickness, with thinner devices switching faster due to a reduction in long-range viscoelastic forces between the LC molecules. The LCPDI has a liquid crystal layer thickness of 10 microns, which is controlled by plastic or glass microspheres embedded in epoxy 'pads' at the corners of the device. The diffracting spheres are composed of polystyrene/divinyl benzene polymer with an initial diameter of 15 microns. The spheres deform slightly when the interferometer is assembled to conform to the spacing produced by the microsphere-filled epoxy spacer pads. While the speed of this interferometer has not yet been tested, previous LCPDIs fabricated at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics switched at a rate of approximately 3.3 Hz, a factor of 10 slower than desired. We anticipate better performance when the speed of these interferometers is tested since they are approximately three times thinner. Phase shifting in these devices is a function of the AC voltage level applied to the liquid crystal. As the voltage increases, the dye in the liquid crystal tends to become more transparent, thus introducing a rather large amount of error into the phase-shifting measurement. While that error can be greatly reduced by normalization, we prefer eliminating the source of the error. To that end, we have pursued development of a 'blend' of custom dyes that will not exhibit these properties. That goal has not yet been fully achieved. Guardalben, et al, presented a similar set of interferograms in a paper partially funded by this grant. Shearing interferometers are a second class of common path interferometers. Typically they consist of a thick glass plate optimized for equal reflection from the front and back surface. While not part of the original thrust of the project, through the course of laboratory work, we demonstrated a prototype of a shearing interferometer capable of phase shifting using a commercial liquid crystal retardation plate. A schematic of this liquid crystal shearing interferometer (LCSI) and a sample set of interferograms are in the reference. This work was also supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inertial Confinement Fusion under Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FC03-92SF19460, the University of Rochester, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The support of DOE does not constitute an endorsement by DOE of the views expressed in this article. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

Optically phase-locked electronic speckle pattern interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moran, Steven E.; Law, Robert; Craig, Peter N.; Goldberg, Warren M.

1987-02-01

The design, theory, operation, and characteristics of an optically phase-locked electronic speckle pattern interferometer (OPL-ESPI) are described. The OPL-ESPI system couples an optical phase-locked loop with an ESPI system to generate real-time equal Doppler speckle contours of moving objects from unstable sensor platforms. In addition, the optical phase-locked loop provides the basis for a new ESPI video signal processing technique which incorporates local oscillator phase shifting coupled with video sequential frame subtraction.

Phase-shifter using submicron silicon waveguide couplers with ultra-small electro-mechanical actuator.

PubMed

Ikeda, Taro; Takahashi, Kazunori; Kanamori, Yoshiaki; Hane, Kazuhiro

2010-03-29

Phase shifter is an important part of optical waveguide circuits as used in interferometer. However, it is not always easy to generate a large phase shift in a small region. Here, a variable phase-shifter operating as delay-line of silicon waveguide was designed and fabricated by silicon micromachining. The proposed phase-shifter consists of a freestanding submicron-wide silicon waveguide with two waveguide couplers and an ultrasmall silicon comb-drive actuator. The position of the freestanding waveguide is moved by the actuator to vary the total optical path. Phase-shift was measured in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to be 3.0pi at the displacement of 1.0 mum at the voltage of 31 V. The dimension of the fabricated device is 50microm wide and 85microm long.

Quantitative phase imaging using grating-based quadrature phase interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jigang; Yaqoob, Zahid; Heng, Xin; Cui, Xiquan; Yang, Changhuei

2007-02-01

In this paper, we report the use of holographic gratings, which act as the free-space equivalent of the 3x3 fiber-optic coupler, to perform full field phase imaging. By recording two harmonically-related gratings in the same holographic plate, we are able to obtain nontrivial phase shift between different output ports of the gratings-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The phase difference can be adjusted by changing the relative phase of the recording beams when recording the hologram. We have built a Mach-Zehnder interferometer using harmonically-related holographic gratings with 600 and 1200 lines/mm spacing. Two CCD cameras at the output ports of the gratings-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer are used to record the full-field quadrature interferograms, which are subsequently processed to reconstruct the phase image. The imaging system has ~12X magnification with ~420μmx315μm field-of-view. To demonstrate the capability of our system, we have successfully performed phase imaging of a pure phase object and a paramecium caudatum.

Null test fourier domain alignment technique for phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer

DOEpatents

Naulleau, Patrick; Goldberg, Kenneth Alan

2000-01-01

Alignment technique for calibrating a phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer involves three independent steps where the first two steps independently align the image points and pinholes in rotation and separation to a fixed reference coordinate system, e.g, CCD. Once the two sub-elements have been properly aligned to the reference in two parameters (separation and orientation), the third step is to align the two sub-element coordinate systems to each other in the two remaining parameters (x,y) using standard methods of locating the pinholes relative to some easy to find reference point.

Hand held phase-shifting diffraction moire interferometer

DOEpatents

Deason, Vance A.; Ward, Michael B.

1994-01-01

An interferometer in which a coherent beam of light is generated within a remote case and transmitted to a hand held unit tethered to said remote case, said hand held unit having optical elements for directing a pair of mutually coherent collimated laser beams at a diffraction grating. Data from the secondary or diffracted beams are then transmitted to a separate video and data acquisition system for recording and analysis for load induced deformation or for identification purposes. Means are also provided for shifting the phase of one incident beam relative to the other incident beam and being controlled from within said remote case.

Analysis on optical heterodyne frequency error of full-field heterodyne interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yang; Zhang, Wenxi; Wu, Zhou; Lv, Xiaoyu; Kong, Xinxin; Guo, Xiaoli

2017-06-01

The full-field heterodyne interferometric measurement technology is beginning better applied by employing low frequency heterodyne acousto-optical modulators instead of complex electro-mechanical scanning devices. The optical element surface could be directly acquired by synchronously detecting the received signal phases of each pixel, because standard matrix detector as CCD and CMOS cameras could be used in heterodyne interferometer. Instead of the traditional four-step phase shifting phase calculating, Fourier spectral analysis method is used for phase extracting which brings lower sensitivity to sources of uncertainty and higher measurement accuracy. In this paper, two types of full-field heterodyne interferometer are described whose advantages and disadvantages are also specified. Heterodyne interferometer has to combine two different frequency beams to produce interference, which brings a variety of optical heterodyne frequency errors. Frequency mixing error and beat frequency error are two different kinds of inescapable heterodyne frequency errors. In this paper, the effects of frequency mixing error to surface measurement are derived. The relationship between the phase extraction accuracy and the errors are calculated. :: The tolerance of the extinction ratio of polarization splitting prism and the signal-to-noise ratio of stray light is given. The error of phase extraction by Fourier analysis that caused by beat frequency shifting is derived and calculated. We also propose an improved phase extraction method based on spectrum correction. An amplitude ratio spectrum correction algorithm with using Hanning window is used to correct the heterodyne signal phase extraction. The simulation results show that this method can effectively suppress the degradation of phase extracting caused by beat frequency error and reduce the measurement uncertainty of full-field heterodyne interferometer.

Aspheric figure generation using feedback from an infrared phase-shifting interferometer.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stahl, H. P.; Ketelsen, D.

This paper discusses the usefulness of the infrared phase-shifting interferometric system for providing figure correcting feedback to the optician during the generation of the off-axis parabolic segments and how it is affected by the surface roughness produced by each generator tool.

Development of phase detection schemes based on surface plasmon resonance using interferometry.

PubMed

Kashif, Muhammad; Bakar, Ahmad Ashrif A; Arsad, Norhana; Shaari, Sahbudin

2014-08-28

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a novel optical sensing technique with a unique ability to monitor molecular binding in real-time for biological and chemical sensor applications. Interferometry is an excellent tool for accurate measurement of SPR changes, the measurement and comparison is made for the sensitivity, dynamic range and resolution of the different analytes using interferometry techniques. SPR interferometry can also employ phase detection in addition to the amplitude of the reflected light wave, and the phase changes more rapidly compared with other approaches, i.e., intensity, angle and wavelength. Therefore, the SPR phase interferometer offers the advantages of spatial phase resolution and high sensitivity. This work discusses the advancements in interferometric SPR methods to measure the phase shifts due to refractive index changes. The main application areas of SPR sensors are demonstrated, i.e., the Fabry-Perot interferometer, Michelson interferometer and Mach-Zehnder interferometer, with different configurations. The three interferometers are discussed in detail, and solutions are suggested to enhance the performance parameters that will aid in future biological and chemical sensors.

Development of Phase Detection Schemes Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance Using Interferometry

PubMed Central

Kashif, Muhammad; Bakar, Ahmad Ashrif A.; Arsad, Norhana; Shaari, Sahbudin

2014-01-01

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a novel optical sensing technique with a unique ability to monitor molecular binding in real-time for biological and chemical sensor applications. Interferometry is an excellent tool for accurate measurement of SPR changes, the measurement and comparison is made for the sensitivity, dynamic range and resolution of the different analytes using interferometry techniques. SPR interferometry can also employ phase detection in addition to the amplitude of the reflected light wave, and the phase changes more rapidly compared with other approaches, i.e., intensity, angle and wavelength. Therefore, the SPR phase interferometer offers the advantages of spatial phase resolution and high sensitivity. This work discusses the advancements in interferometric SPR methods to measure the phase shifts due to refractive index changes. The main application areas of SPR sensors are demonstrated, i.e., the Fabry-Perot interferometer, Michelson interferometer and Mach-Zehnder interferometer, with different configurations. The three interferometers are discussed in detail, and solutions are suggested to enhance the performance parameters that will aid in future biological and chemical sensors. PMID:25171117

Phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer

DOEpatents

Medecki, H.

1998-11-10

Disclosed is a point diffraction interferometer for evaluating the quality of a test optic. In operation, the point diffraction interferometer includes a source of radiation, the test optic, a beam divider, a reference wave pinhole located at an image plane downstream from the test optic, and a detector for detecting an interference pattern produced between a reference wave emitted by the pinhole and a test wave emitted from the test optic. The beam divider produces separate reference and test beams which focus at different laterally separated positions on the image plane. The reference wave pinhole is placed at a region of high intensity (e.g., the focal point) for the reference beam. This allows reference wave to be produced at a relatively high intensity. Also, the beam divider may include elements for phase shifting one or both of the reference and test beams. 8 figs.

Phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer

DOEpatents

Medecki, Hector

1998-01-01

Disclosed is a point diffraction interferometer for evaluating the quality of a test optic. In operation, the point diffraction interferometer includes a source of radiation, the test optic, a beam divider, a reference wave pinhole located at an image plane downstream from the test optic, and a detector for detecting an interference pattern produced between a reference wave emitted by the pinhole and a test wave emitted from the test optic. The beam divider produces separate reference and test beams which focus at different laterally separated positions on the image plane. The reference wave pinhole is placed at a region of high intensity (e.g., the focal point) for the reference beam. This allows reference wave to be produced at a relatively high intensity. Also, the beam divider may include elements for phase shifting one or both of the reference and test beams.

Furnace control apparatus using polarizing interferometer

DOEpatents

Schultz, Thomas J.; Kotidis, Petros A.; Woodroffe, Jaime A.; Rostler, Peter S.

1995-01-01

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading.

Polarizing optical interferometer having a dual use optical element

DOEpatents

Kotidis, P.A.; Woodroffe, J.A.; Rostler, P.S.

1995-04-04

A system for nondestructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading. 38 figures.

Process control system using polarizing interferometer

DOEpatents

Schultz, T.J.; Kotidis, P.A.; Woodroffe, J.A.; Rostler, P.S.

1994-02-15

A system for nondestructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading. 38 figures.

Polarizing optical interferometer having a dual use optical element

DOEpatents

Kotidis, Petros A.; Woodroffe, Jaime A.; Rostler, Peter S.

1995-01-01

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading.

Process control system using polarizing interferometer

DOEpatents

Schultz, Thomas J.; Kotidis, Petros A.; Woodroffe, Jaime A.; Rostler, Peter S.

1994-01-01

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading.

Furnace control apparatus using polarizing interferometer

DOEpatents

Schultz, T.J.; Kotidis, P.A.; Woodroffe, J.A.; Rostler, P.S.

1995-03-28

A system for nondestructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading. 38 figures.

Method and apparatus for measuring surface movement of an object using a polarizing interferometer

DOEpatents

Schultz, T.J.; Kotidis, P.A.; Woodroffe, J.A.; Rostler, P.S.

1995-05-09

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading. 38 figs.

Frequency scanning interferometry in ATLAS: remote, multiple, simultaneous and precise distance measurements in a hostile environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coe, P. A.; Howell, D. F.; Nickerson, R. B.

2004-11-01

ATLAS is the largest particle detector under construction at CERN Geneva. Frequency scanning interferometry (FSI), also known as absolute distance interferometry, will be used to monitor shape changes of the SCT (semiconductor tracker), a particle tracker in the inaccessible, high radiation environment at the centre of ATLAS. Geodetic grids with several hundred fibre-coupled interferometers (30 mm to 1.5 m long) will be measured simultaneously. These lengths will be measured by tuning two lasers and comparing the resulting phase shifts in grid line interferometers (GLIs) with phase shifts in a reference interferometer. The novel inexpensive GLI design uses diverging beams to reduce sensitivity to misalignment, albeit with weaker signals. One micrometre precision length measurements of grid lines will allow 10 µm precision tracker shape corrections to be fed into ATLAS particle tracking analysis. The technique was demonstrated by measuring a 400 mm interferometer to better than 400 nm and a 1195 mm interferometer to better than 250 nm. Precise measurements were possible, even with poor quality signals, using numerical analysis of thousands of intensity samples. Errors due to drifts in interferometer length were substantially reduced using two lasers tuned in opposite directions and the precision was further improved by linking measurements made at widely separated laser frequencies.

Hand held phase-shifting diffraction Moire interferometer

DOEpatents

Deason, V.A.; Ward, M.B.

1994-09-20

An interferometer is described in which a coherent beam of light is generated within a remote case and transmitted to a hand held unit tethered to said remote case, said hand held unit having optical elements for directing a pair of mutually coherent collimated laser beams at a diffraction grating. Data from the secondary or diffracted beams are then transmitted to a separate video and data acquisition system for recording and analysis for load induced deformation or for identification purposes. Means are also provided for shifting the phase of one incident beam relative to the other incident beam and being controlled from within said remote case. 4 figs.

A 100-Gb/s noncoherent silicon receiver for PDM-DBPSK/DQPSK signals.

PubMed

Klamkin, Jonathan; Gambini, Fabrizio; Faralli, Stefano; Malacarne, Antonio; Meloni, Gianluca; Berrettini, Gianluca; Contestabile, Giampiero; Potì, Luca

2014-01-27

An integrated noncoherent silicon receiver for demodulation of 100-Gb/s polarization-division multiplexed differential quadrature phase-shift keying and polarization-division multiplexed differential binary phase-shift keying signals is demonstrated. The receiver consists of a 2D surface grating coupler, four Mach-Zehnder delay interferometers and four germanium balanced photodetectors.

Dual-domain lateral shearing interferometer

DOEpatents

Naulleau, Patrick P.; Goldberg, Kenneth Alan

2004-03-16

The phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer (PS/PDI) was developed to address the problem of at-wavelength metrology of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optical systems. Although extremely accurate, the fact that the PS/PDI is limited to use with coherent EUV sources, such as undulator radiation, is a drawback for its widespread use. An alternative to the PS/PDI, with relaxed coherence requirements, is lateral shearing interferometry (LSI). The use of a cross-grating, carrier-frequency configuration to characterize a large-field 4.times.-reduction EUV lithography optic is demonstrated. The results obtained are directly compared with PS/PDI measurements. A defocused implementation of the lateral shearing interferometer in which an image-plane filter allows both phase-shifting and Fourier wavefront recovery. The two wavefront recovery methods can be combined in a dual-domain technique providing suppression of noise added by self-interference of high-frequency components in the test-optic wavefront.

Software design for a compact interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vogel, Andreas

1993-01-01

Experience shows that very often a lot of similar elements have to be tested by the optician. Only a small number of input parameters are changed in a well defined manner. So it is useful to develop simplified software for special applications. The software is used in a compact phase shifting interferometer. Up to five interferometers can be controlled by a single PC-AT computer. Modular programming simplifies the software modification for new applications.

A new method for determining the plasma electron density using three-color interferometer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arakawa, Hiroyuki; Kawano, Yasunori; Itami, Kiyoshi

2012-06-15

A new method for determining the plasma electron density using the fractional fringes on three-color interferometer is proposed. Integrated phase shift on each interferometer is derived without using the temporal history of the fractional fringes. The dependence on the fringe resolution and the electrical noise are simulated on the wavelengths of CO{sub 2} laser. Short-time integrations of the fractional fringes enhance the reliability of this method.

High-sensitivity rotation sensing with atom interferometers using Aharonov-Bohm effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Özcan, Meriac

2006-02-01

In recent years there has been significant activity in research and development of high sensitivity accelerometers and gyroscopes using atom interferometers. In these devices, a fringe shift in the interference of atom de Broglie waves indicates the rotation rate of the interferometer relative to an inertial frame of reference. In both optical and atomic conventional Sagnac interferometers, the resultant phase difference due to rotation is independent of the wave velocity. However, we show that if an atom interforemeter is enclosed in a Faraday cage which is at some potential, the phase difference of the counter-propagating waves is proportional to the inverse square of the particle velocity and it is proportional to the applied potential. This is due to Aharonov-Bohm effect and it can be used to increase the rotation sensitivity of atom interferometers.

Phase-Shifting Liquid Crystal Point-Diffraction Interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Griffin, DeVon W.; Marshall, Kenneth L.; Mercer, Carolyn R.

2000-01-01

Microgravity fluid physics experiments frequently measure concentration and temperature. Interferometers such as the Twyman Green illustrated have performed full-field measurement of these quantities. As with most such devices, this interferometer uses a reference path that is not common with the path through the test section. Recombination of the test and reference wavefronts produces interference fringes. Unfortunately, in order to obtain stable fringes, the alignment of both the test and reference paths must be maintained to within a fraction of the wavelength of the light being used for the measurement. Otherwise, the fringes will shift and may disappear. Because these interferometers are extremely sensitive to bumping, jarring and transmitted vibration, they are typically mounted on optical isolation tables. Schlieren deflectometers or the more recent Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors also measure concentration and temperature in laboratory fluid flows. Ray optics describe the operation of both devices. In a schlieren system, an expanded, collimated beam passes through a test section where refractive index gradients deflect rays. A lens focuses the beam to a filter placed in the rear focal plane of the decollimating lens. In a quantitative color schlieren system, gradients in the index of refraction appear as colors in the field of view due to the action of the color filter. Since sensitivity is a function of the focal length of the decollimating lens, these systems are rather long and filter fabrication and calibration is rather difficult. A Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor is an array of small lenslets. Typical diameters are on the order of a few hundred microns. Since these lenslets divide the test section into resolution elements, the spatial resolution can be no smaller than an individual lenslet. Such a device was recently used to perform high-speed tomography of heated air exiting a 1.27 cm diameter nozzle. While these wavefront sensors are very compact, the limited spatial resolution and the methods required for data reduction suggest that a more useful instrument needs to be developed. The category of interferometers known as common path interferometers can eliminate much of the vibration sensitivity associated with traditional interferometry as described above. In these devices, division of the amplitude of the wavefront following the test section produces the reference beam. Examples of these instruments include shearing and point diffraction interferometers. In the latter case, shown schematically, a lens focuses light passing through the test section onto a small diffracting object. Such objects are typically either a circle of material on a high quality glass plate or a small sphere in a glass cell. The size of the focused spot is several times larger than the object so that the light not intercepted by the diffracting object forms the test beam while the diffracted light generates a spherical reference beam. While this configuration is mechanically stable, phase shifting one beam with respect to the other is difficult due to the common path. Phase shifting enables extremely accurate measurements of the phase of the interferogram using only gray scale intensity measurements and is the de facto standard of industry. Mercer and Creath 2 demonstrated phase shifting in a point diffraction interferometer using a spherical spacer in a liquid crystal cell as the diffracting object. By changing the voltage across the cell, they were able to shift the phase of the undiffracted beam relative to the reference beam generated by diffraction from the sphere. While they applied this technology to fluid measurements, the device shifted phase so slowly that it was not useful for studying transient phenomena. We have identified several technical problems that precluded operation of the device at video frame rates and intend to solve them to produce a phase-shifting liquid crystal point-diffraction interferometer operating at video frame rates. The first task is to produce high contrast fringes. Since the diffracted beam is much weaker than the transmitted beam, interferograms have poor contrast unless a dye is added to the liquid crystal to reduce the intensity of the undiffracted light. Dyes previously used were not rigorously characterized and suffered from hysteresis in both the initial alignment state of the device and the electro-optic switching characteristics. Hence, our initial effort will identify and characterize dyes that do not suffer from these difficulties and are readily soluble in the liquid crystal host. Since the ultimate goal of this research is to produce interferometers capable of phase shifting at video frame rates, we will quantify the difference in switching times between ferroelectric and nematic liquid crystals. While we have more experience with nematic crystals, they typically switch more slowly than ferroelectric cells. As part of that effort, we will investigate the difference in the modulation of the interferograms as a function of the type of liquid crystal in the cell. Because the temporal switching response of a liquid crystal cell is directly related its thickness, we intend to explore techniques required to produce cells that are as thin as possible. However, the cells must still produce a total phase shift of two pi radians.

Moiré deflectometry using the Talbot-Lau interferometer as refraction diagnostic for High Energy Density plasmas at energies below 10 keV

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Valdivia, M. P.; Stutman, D.; Finkenthal, M.

2014-07-15

The highly localized density gradients expected in High Energy Density (HED) plasma experiments can be characterized by x-ray phase-contrast imaging in addition to conventional attenuation radiography. Moiré deflectometry using the Talbot-Lau grating interferometer setup is an attractive HED diagnostic due to its high sensitivity to refraction induced phase shifts. We report on the adaptation of such a system for operation in the sub-10 keV range by using a combination of free standing and ultrathin Talbot gratings. This new x-ray energy explored matches well the current x-ray backlighters used for HED experiments, while also enhancing phase effects at lower electron densities.more » We studied the performance of the high magnification, low energy Talbot-Lau interferometer, for single image phase retrieval using Moiré fringe deflectometry. Our laboratory and simulation studies indicate that such a device is able to retrieve object electron densities from phase shift measurements. Using laboratory x-ray sources from 7 to 15 μm size we obtained accurate simultaneous measurements of refraction and attenuation for both sharp and mild electron density gradients.« less

Moiré deflectometry using the Talbot-Lau interferometer as refraction diagnostic for high energy density plasmas at energies below 10 keV.

PubMed

Valdivia, M P; Stutman, D; Finkenthal, M

2014-07-01

The highly localized density gradients expected in High Energy Density (HED) plasma experiments can be characterized by x-ray phase-contrast imaging in addition to conventional attenuation radiography. Moiré deflectometry using the Talbot-Lau grating interferometer setup is an attractive HED diagnostic due to its high sensitivity to refraction induced phase shifts. We report on the adaptation of such a system for operation in the sub-10 keV range by using a combination of free standing and ultrathin Talbot gratings. This new x-ray energy explored matches well the current x-ray backlighters used for HED experiments, while also enhancing phase effects at lower electron densities. We studied the performance of the high magnification, low energy Talbot-Lau interferometer, for single image phase retrieval using Moiré fringe deflectometry. Our laboratory and simulation studies indicate that such a device is able to retrieve object electron densities from phase shift measurements. Using laboratory x-ray sources from 7 to 15 μm size we obtained accurate simultaneous measurements of refraction and attenuation for both sharp and mild electron density gradients.

Model-based phase-shifting interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Dong; Zhang, Lei; Shi, Tu; Yang, Yongying; Chong, Shiyao; Miao, Liang; Huang, Wei; Shen, Yibing; Bai, Jian

2015-10-01

A model-based phase-shifting interferometer (MPI) is developed, in which a novel calculation technique is proposed instead of the traditional complicated system structure, to achieve versatile, high precision and quantitative surface tests. In the MPI, the partial null lens (PNL) is employed to implement the non-null test. With some alternative PNLs, similar as the transmission spheres in ZYGO interferometers, the MPI provides a flexible test for general spherical and aspherical surfaces. Based on modern computer modeling technique, a reverse iterative optimizing construction (ROR) method is employed for the retrace error correction of non-null test, as well as figure error reconstruction. A self-compiled ray-tracing program is set up for the accurate system modeling and reverse ray tracing. The surface figure error then can be easily extracted from the wavefront data in forms of Zernike polynomials by the ROR method. Experiments of the spherical and aspherical tests are presented to validate the flexibility and accuracy. The test results are compared with those of Zygo interferometer (null tests), which demonstrates the high accuracy of the MPI. With such accuracy and flexibility, the MPI would possess large potential in modern optical shop testing.

Experimental study of the mutual influence of fibre Faraday elements in a spun-fibre interferometer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gubin, V P; Morshnev, S K; Przhiyalkovsky, Ya V

2015-08-31

An all-spun-fibre linear reflective interferometer with two linked Faraday fibre coils is studied. It is found experimentally that there is mutual influence of Faraday fibre coils in this interferometer. It manifests itself as an additional phase shift of the interferometer response, which depends on the circular birefringence induced by the Faraday effect in both coils. In addition, the interferometer contrast and magneto-optical sensitivity of one of the coils change. A probable physical mechanism of the discovered effect is the distributed coupling of orthogonal polarised waves in the fibre medium, which is caused by fibre bend in the coil. (interferometry)

Phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer focus-aid enhanced mask

DOEpatents

Naulleau, Patrick

2000-01-01

A phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer system (PS/PDI) employing a PS/PDI mask that includes a PDI focus aid is provided. The PDI focus aid mask includes a large or secondary reference pinhole that is slightly displaced from the true or primary reference pinhole. The secondary pinhole provides a larger capture tolerance for interferometrically performing fine focus. With the focus-aid enhanced mask, conventional methods such as the knife-edge test can be used to perform an initial (or rough) focus and the secondary (large) pinhole is used to perform interferometric fine focus. Once the system is well focused, high accuracy interferometry can be performed using the primary (small) pinhole.

A general theory of interference fringes in x-ray phase grating imaging.

PubMed

Yan, Aimin; Wu, Xizeng; Liu, Hong

2015-06-01

The authors note that the concept of the Talbot self-image distance in x-ray phase grating interferometry is indeed not well defined for polychromatic x-rays, because both the grating phase shift and the fractional Talbot distances are all x-ray wavelength-dependent. For x-ray interferometry optimization, there is a need for a quantitative theory that is able to predict if a good intensity modulation is attainable at a given grating-to-detector distance. In this work, the authors set out to meet this need. In order to apply Fourier analysis directly to the intensity fringe patterns of two-dimensional and one-dimensional phase grating interferometers, the authors start their derivation from a general phase space theory of x-ray phase-contrast imaging. Unlike previous Fourier analyses, the authors evolved the Wigner distribution to obtain closed-form expressions of the Fourier coefficients of the intensity fringes for any grating-to-detector distance, even if it is not a fractional Talbot distance. The developed theory determines the visibility of any diffraction order as a function of the grating-to-detector distance, the phase shift of the grating, and the x-ray spectrum. The authors demonstrate that the visibilities of diffraction orders can serve as the indicators of the underlying interference intensity modulation. Applying the theory to the conventional and inverse geometry configurations of single-grating interferometers, the authors demonstrated that the proposed theory provides a quantitative tool for the grating interferometer optimization with or without the Talbot-distance constraints. In this work, the authors developed a novel theory of the interference intensity fringes in phase grating x-ray interferometry. This theory provides a quantitative tool in design optimization of phase grating x-ray interferometers.

Weighted least-square approach for simultaneous measurement of multiple reflective surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Shouhong; Bills, Richard E.; Freischlad, Klaus

2007-09-01

Phase shifting interferometry (PSI) is a highly accurate method for measuring the nanometer-scale relative surface height of a semi-reflective test surface. PSI is effectively used in conjunction with Fizeau interferometers for optical testing, hard disk inspection, and semiconductor wafer flatness. However, commonly-used PSI algorithms are unable to produce an accurate phase measurement if more than one reflective surface is present in the Fizeau interferometer test cavity. Examples of test parts that fall into this category include lithography mask blanks and their protective pellicles, and plane parallel optical beam splitters. The plane parallel surfaces of these parts generate multiple interferograms that are superimposed in the recording plane of the Fizeau interferometer. When using wavelength shifting in PSI the phase shifting speed of each interferogram is proportional to the optical path difference (OPD) between the two reflective surfaces. The proposed method is able to differentiate each underlying interferogram from each other in an optimal manner. In this paper, we present a method for simultaneously measuring the multiple test surfaces of all underlying interferograms from these superimposed interferograms through the use of a weighted least-square fitting technique. The theoretical analysis of weighted least-square technique and the measurement results will be described in this paper.

An atom interferometer inside a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

PubMed Central

Xin, Mingjie; Leong, Wui Seng; Chen, Zilong; Lan, Shau-Yu

2018-01-01

Coherent interactions between electromagnetic and matter waves lie at the heart of quantum science and technology. However, the diffraction nature of light has limited the scalability of many atom-light–based quantum systems. We use the optical fields in a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber to spatially split, reflect, and recombine a coherent superposition state of free-falling 85Rb atoms to realize an inertia-sensitive atom interferometer. The interferometer operates over a diffraction-free distance, and the contrasts and phase shifts at different distances agree within one standard error. The integration of phase coherent photonic and quantum systems here shows great promise to advance the capability of atom interferometers in the field of precision measurement and quantum sensing with miniature design of apparatus and high efficiency of laser power consumption. PMID:29372180

Combined dispersive/interference spectroscopy for producing a vector spectrum

DOEpatents

Erskine, David J.

2002-01-01

A method of measuring the spectral properties of broadband waves that combines interferometry with a wavelength disperser having many spectral channels to produce a fringing spectrum. Spectral mapping, Doppler shifts, metrology of angles, distances and secondary effects such as temperature, pressure, and acceleration which change an interferometer cavity length can be measured accurately by a compact instrument using broadband illumination. Broadband illumination avoids the fringe skip ambiguities of monochromatic waves. The interferometer provides arbitrarily high spectral resolution, simple instrument response, compactness, low cost, high field of view and high efficiency. The inclusion of a disperser increases fringe visibility and signal to noise ratio over an interferometer used alone for broadband waves. The fringing spectrum is represented as a wavelength dependent 2-d vector, which describes the fringe amplitude and phase. Vector mathematics such as generalized dot products rapidly computes average broadband phase shifts to high accuracy. A Moire effect between the interferometer's sinusoidal transmission and the illumination heterodynes high resolution spectral detail to low spectral detail, allowing the use of a low resolution disperser. Multiple parallel interferometer cavities of fixed delay allow the instantaneous mapping of a spectrum, with an instrument more compact for the same spectral resolution than a conventional dispersive spectrometer, and not requiring a scanning delay.

Apparatus for measuring surface movement of an object that is subjected to external vibrations

DOEpatents

Kotidis, Petros A.; Woodroffe, Jaime A.; Rostler, Peter S.

1997-01-01

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading.

Method and apparatus for measuring surface movement of a solid object that is subjected to external vibrations

DOEpatents

Schultz, Thomas J.; Kotidis, Petros A.; Woodroffe, Jaime A.; Rostler, Peter S.

1995-01-01

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading.

Method and apparatus for measuring surface movement of an object using a polarizing interfeometer

DOEpatents

Schultz, Thomas J.; Kotidis, Petros A.; Woodroffe, Jaime A.; Rostler, Peter S.

1995-01-01

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading.

Method and apparatus for measuring surface movement of a solid object that is subjected to external vibrations

DOEpatents

Schultz, T.J.; Kotidis, P.A.; Woodroffe, J.A.; Rostler, P.S.

1995-04-25

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading. 38 figs.

Apparatus for measuring surface movement of an object that is subjected to external vibrations

DOEpatents

Kotidis, P.A.; Woodroffe, J.A.; Rostler, P.S.

1997-04-22

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading. 38 figs.

Precision requirements and innovative manufacturing for ultrahigh precision laser interferometry of gravitational-wave astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ni, Wei-Tou; Han, Sen; Jin, Tao

2016-11-01

With the LIGO announcement of the first direct detection of gravitational waves (GWs), the GW Astronomy was formally ushered into our age. After one-hundred years of theoretical investigation and fifty years of experimental endeavor, this is a historical landmark not just for physics and astronomy, but also for industry and manufacturing. The challenge and opportunity for industry is precision and innovative manufacturing in large size - production of large and homogeneous optical components, optical diagnosis of large components, high reflectance dielectric coating on large mirrors, manufacturing of components for ultrahigh vacuum of large volume, manufacturing of high attenuating vibration isolation system, production of high-power high-stability single-frequency lasers, production of high-resolution positioning systems etc. In this talk, we address the requirements and methods to satisfy these requirements. Optical diagnosis of large optical components requires large phase-shifting interferometer; the 1.06 μm Phase Shifting Interferometer for testing LIGO optics and the recently built 24" phase-shifting Interferometer in Chengdu, China are examples. High quality mirrors are crucial for laser interferometric GW detection, so as for ring laser gyroscope, high precision laser stabilization via optical cavities, quantum optomechanics, cavity quantum electrodynamics and vacuum birefringence measurement. There are stringent requirements on the substrate materials and coating methods. For cryogenic GW interferometer, appropriate coating on sapphire or silicon are required for good thermal and homogeneity properties. Large ultrahigh vacuum components and high attenuating vibration system together with an efficient metrology system are required and will be addressed. For space interferometry, drag-free technology and weak-light manipulation technology are must. Drag-free technology is well-developed. Weak-light phase locking is demonstrated in the laboratories while weak-light manipulation technology still needs developments.

Vibration testing and analysis using holography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1971-01-01

Time average holography is useful in recording steady state vibrational mode patterns. Phase relationships under steady state conditions are measured with real time holography and special phase shifting techniques. Data from Michelson interferometer verify vibration amplitudes from holographic data.

Possible daily and seasonal variations in quantum interference induced by Chern-Simons gravity.

PubMed

Okawara, Hiroki; Yamada, Kei; Asada, Hideki

2012-12-07

Possible effects of Chern-Simons (CS) gravity on a quantum interferometer turn out to be dependent on the latitude and direction of the interferometer on Earth in orbital motion around the Sun. Daily and seasonal variations in phase shifts are predicted with an estimate of the size of the effects, wherefore neutron interferometry with ~5 m arm length and ~10(-4) phase measurement accuracy would place a bound on a CS parameter comparable to the Gravity Probe B satellite.

Large radius of curvature measurement based on virtual quadratic Newton rings phase-shifting moiré-fringes measurement method in a nonnull interferometer.

PubMed

Yang, Zhongming; Wang, Kailiang; Cheng, Jinlong; Gao, Zhishan; Yuan, Qun

2016-06-10

We have proposed a virtual quadratic Newton rings phase-shifting moiré-fringes measurement method in a nonnull interferometer to measure the large radius of curvature for a spherical surface. In a quadratic polar coordinate system, linear carrier testing Newton rings interferogram and virtual Newton rings interferogram form the moiré fringes. It is possible to retrieve the wavefront difference data between the testing and standard spherical surface from the moiré fringes after low-pass filtering. Based on the wavefront difference data, we deduced a precise formula to calculate the radius of curvature in the quadratic polar coordinate system. We calculated the retrace error in the nonnull interferometer using the multi-configuration model of the nonnull interferometric system in ZEMAX. Our experimental results indicate that the measurement accuracy is better than 0.18% for a spherical mirror with a radius of curvature of 41,400 mm.

Common-Path Interferometric Wavefront Sensing for Space Telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wallace, James Kent

2011-01-01

This paper presents an optical configuration for a common-path phase-shifting interferometric wavefront sensor.1 2 This sensor has a host of attractive features which make it well suited for space-based adaptive optics. First, it is strictly reflective and therefore operates broadband, second it is common mode and therefore does not suffer from systematic errors (like vibration) that are typical in other interferometers, third it is a phase-shifting interferometer and therefore benefits from both the sensitivity of interferometric sensors as well as the noise rejection afforded by synchronous detection. Unlike the Shack-Hartman wavefront sensor, it has nearly uniform sensitivity to all pupil modes. Optical configuration, theory and simulations for such a system will be discussed along with predicted performance.

Common path point diffraction interferometer using liquid crystal phase shifting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mercer, Carolyn R. (Inventor)

1997-01-01

A common path point diffraction interferometer uses dyed, parallel nematic liquid crystals which surround an optically transparent microsphere. Coherent, collimated and polarized light is focused on the microsphere at a diameter larger than that of the microsphere. A portion of the focused light passes through the microsphere to form a spherical wavefront reference beam and the rest of the light is attenuated by the dyed liquid crystals to form an object beam. The two beams form an interferogram which is imaged by a lens onto an electronic array sensor and into a computer which determines the wavefront of the object beam. The computer phase shifts the interferogram by stepping up an AC voltage applied across the liquid crystals without affecting the reference beam.

Measurement of electron density profiles on HT-6M tokamak by 7-channel FIR HCN laser interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiang, Gao; Qiliang, Guo

1990-12-01

Electron density measurements are periormed on HT-6M tokamak using a 7 channel Far-Infrared HCN laser interferometer. From the measured line integrals--7 channel phase shifts the electron density profile is reconstructed by a fit procedure. Results were tested by comparison to Abel inverted. Some recent interesting experimental results were reported.

Canceling the Gravity Gradient Phase Shift in Atom Interferometry.

PubMed

D'Amico, G; Rosi, G; Zhan, S; Cacciapuoti, L; Fattori, M; Tino, G M

2017-12-22

Gravity gradients represent a major obstacle in high-precision measurements by atom interferometry. Controlling their effects to the required stability and accuracy imposes very stringent requirements on the relative positioning of freely falling atomic clouds, as in the case of precise tests of Einstein's equivalence principle. We demonstrate a new method to exactly compensate the effects introduced by gravity gradients in a Raman-pulse atom interferometer. By shifting the frequency of the Raman lasers during the central π pulse, it is possible to cancel the initial position- and velocity-dependent phase shift produced by gravity gradients. We apply this technique to simultaneous interferometers positioned along the vertical direction and demonstrate a new method for measuring local gravity gradients that does not require precise knowledge of the relative position between the atomic clouds. Based on this method, we also propose an improved scheme to determine the Newtonian gravitational constant G towards the 10 ppm relative uncertainty.

Canceling the Gravity Gradient Phase Shift in Atom Interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Amico, G.; Rosi, G.; Zhan, S.; Cacciapuoti, L.; Fattori, M.; Tino, G. M.

2017-12-01

Gravity gradients represent a major obstacle in high-precision measurements by atom interferometry. Controlling their effects to the required stability and accuracy imposes very stringent requirements on the relative positioning of freely falling atomic clouds, as in the case of precise tests of Einstein's equivalence principle. We demonstrate a new method to exactly compensate the effects introduced by gravity gradients in a Raman-pulse atom interferometer. By shifting the frequency of the Raman lasers during the central π pulse, it is possible to cancel the initial position- and velocity-dependent phase shift produced by gravity gradients. We apply this technique to simultaneous interferometers positioned along the vertical direction and demonstrate a new method for measuring local gravity gradients that does not require precise knowledge of the relative position between the atomic clouds. Based on this method, we also propose an improved scheme to determine the Newtonian gravitational constant G towards the 10 ppm relative uncertainty.

Interferometric space-mode multiplexing based on binary phase plates and refractive phase shifters.

PubMed

Liñares, Jesús; Prieto-Blanco, Xesús; Moreno, Vicente; Montero-Orille, Carlos; Mouriz, Dolores; Nistal, María C; Barral, David

2017-05-15

A Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) that includes in an arm either a reflective image inverter or a Gouy phase shifter (RGPS) can (de)multiplex many types of modes of a few mode fiber without fundamental loss. The use of RGPSs in combination with binary phase plates for multiplexing purposes is studied for the first time, showing that the particular RGPS that shifts π the odd modes only multiplexes accurately low order modes. To overcome such a restriction, we present a new exact refractive image inverter, more compact and flexible than its reflective counterpart. Moreover, we show that these interferometers remove or reduce the crosstalk that the binary phase plates could introduce between the multiplexed modes. Finally, an experimental analysis of a MZI with both an approximated and an exact refractive image inverter is presented for the case of a bimodal multiplexing. Likewise, it is proven experimentally that a RGPS that shifts π/2 demultiplexes two odd modes which can not be achieved by any image inverter.

Visualizing the phenomena of wave interference, phase-shifting and polarization by interactive computer simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivera-Ortega, Uriel; Dirckx, Joris

2015-09-01

In this manuscript a computer based simulation is proposed for teaching concepts of interference of light (under the scheme of a Michelson interferometer), phase-shifting and polarization states. The user can change some parameters of the interfering waves, such as their amplitude and phase difference in order to graphically represent the polarization state of a simulated travelling wave. Regarding to the interference simulation, the user is able to change the wavelength and type of the interfering waves by selecting combinations between planar and Gaussian profiles, as well as the optical path difference by translating or tilting one of the two mirrors in the interferometer setup, all of this via a graphical user interface (GUI) designed in MATLAB. A theoretical introduction and simulation results for each phenomenon will be shown. Due to the simulation characteristics, this GUI can be a very good non-formal learning resource.

Electro-Optic Modulator and Method

DTIC Science & Technology

An optical intensity modulator which uses a Sagnac interferometer having an electro - optic phase modulator therein. An electric modulation signal is...modulating the optical signals by the electrical signal, the electro - optic effect in the modulator phase shifts the optical signals with respect to one another

A universal matter-wave interferometer with optical ionization gratings in the time-domain

PubMed Central

Haslinger, Philipp; Dörre, Nadine; Geyer, Philipp; Rodewald, Jonas; Nimmrichter, Stefan; Arndt, Markus

2015-01-01

Matter-wave interferometry with atoms1 and molecules2 has attracted a rapidly growing interest throughout the last two decades both in demonstrations of fundamental quantum phenomena and in quantum-enhanced precision measurements. Such experiments exploit the non-classical superposition of two or more position and momentum states which are coherently split and rejoined to interfere3-11. Here, we present the experimental realization of a universal near-field interferometer built from three short-pulse single-photon ionization gratings12,13. We observe quantum interference of fast molecular clusters, with a composite de Broglie wavelength as small as 275 fm. Optical ionization gratings are largely independent of the specific internal level structure and are therefore universally applicable to different kinds of nanoparticles, ranging from atoms to clusters, molecules and nanospheres. The interferometer is sensitive to fringe shifts as small as a few nanometers and yet robust against velocity-dependent phase shifts, since the gratings exist only for nanoseconds and form an interferometer in the time-domain. PMID:25983851

Measurement of the Lamb shift in the hydrogen atom (n = 2)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sokolov, Y.L.; Yakovlev, V.P.

1982-07-01

A principle is proposed for the observation of the stationary interference pattern of two phase-shifted components of the 2p (or 2s) state of the hydrogen atom (Yu. L. Sokolov, Sov. Phys. JETP 36, 243 (1973)); (Proc. 6-th Internat. Conf. on Atomic Phys., Riga, 1978, p. 207). An atomic interferometer, a device analogous in principle to a two-channel optical (such as Michelson's) interferometer, is used to measure the frequency of the (2s/sub 1/2/, F = 0)--(2p/sub 1/2/, F = 0) transition in the hydrogen atom, which is found to equal 909.9014 +- 0.0019 MHz. The corresponding Lamb shift is delta(H, nmore » = 2) = 1057.8594 +- 0.0019 MHz.« less

Rotation Sensing with Trapped Ions

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

Sagnac effect can be used to measure the rotational velocity Ω of a reference frame by observing the phase shift of an interferometer in that frame whose...sensitivity of interferometric gyroscopes. For photons, optical fibers (or ring laser cavities) allow many effective round-trips through the Sagnac...interferometer, thereby increasing the effective area A by 2 times the number of round trips (M) without increasing the actual area of the apparatus. This

Vertical comb-drive microscanner with 4x4 array of micromirrors for phase-shifting Mirau microinterferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bargiel, Sylwester; Lullin, Justine; Lemoal, Patrice; Perrin, Stéphane; Passilly, Nicolas; Albero, Jorge; Froehly, Luc; Lardet-Vieudrin, Franck; Gorecki, Christophe

2016-04-01

In this paper, we present construction, fabrication and characterization of an electrostatic MOEMS vertical microscanner for generation of an optical phase shift in array-type interferometric microsystems. The microscanner employs asymmetric comb-drives for a vertical displacement of a large 4x4 array of reference micromirrors and for in-situ position sensing. The device is designed to be fully compatible with Mirau configuration and with vertical integration strategy. This enables further integration of the device within an "active" multi-channel Mirau micro-interferometer and implementation of the phase shifting interferometry (PSI) technique for imaging applications. The combination of micro-interferometer and PSI is particularly interesting in the swept-source optical coherence tomography, since it allows not only strong size reduction of a system but also improvement of its performance (sensitivity, removal of the image artefacts). The technology of device is based on double-side DRIE of SOI wafer and vapor HF releasing of the suspended platform. In the static mode, the device provides vertical displacement of micromirrors up to 2.8μm (0 - 40V), whereas at resonance (fo=500 Hz), it reaches 0.7 μm for only 1VDC+1VAC. In both operation modes, the measured displacement is much more than required for PSI implementation (352nm peak-to-peak). The presented device is a key component of array-type Mirau micro-interferometer that enables the construction of portable, low-cost interferometric systems, e.g. for in vivo medical diagnostics.

Nanometer-scale displacement measurement with high resolution using dual cavity Fabry-Pérot interferometer for biomimetic robots.

PubMed

Lee, Jin-Hyuk; Kim, Dae-Hyun

2014-10-01

A sensor of a biomimetic robot has to measure very small environmental changes such as, nanometer scale strains or displacements. Fiber optic sensor can be also one of candidates for the biomimetic sensor because the sensor is like thread and the shape of the sensor is similar to muscle fiber. A fiber optic interferometer, which is an optical-based sensor, can measure displacement precisely, so such device has been widely studied for the measurement of displacement on a nanometer-scale. Especially, a Quadrature Phase-Shifted Fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer (QPS-FFPI) uses phase-information for this measurement, allowing it to provide a precision result with high resolution. In theory, the QPS-FFPI generates two sinusoidal signals of which the phase difference should be 90 degrees for the exact measurement of the displacement. In order to guarantee the condition of the phase difference, the relative adjustment of the cavities of the optical fibers is required. However, with such precise adjustment it is very hard to fix the proper difference of the two cavities for quadrature-phase-shifting. In this paper, a dual-cavity FFPI is newly proposed to measure the displacement on a nanometer-scale with a specific type of signal processing. In the signal processing, a novel phase-compensation algorithm is applied to force the phase difference to be exactly 90 degrees without any physical adjustment. As a result, the paper shows that the phase-compensated dual-cavity FFPI can effectively measure nanometer-scale displacement with high resolution under dynamic conditions.

Phase shifting interferometry based on a vibration sensor - feasibility study on elimination of the depth degeneracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Seung Seok; Kim, Ju Ha; Choi, Eun Seo

2017-04-01

We proposed novel phase-shifting interferometry using a fiber-optic vibration sensor. The Doppler shift in the coiled fiber caused by vibrations can be used to detect the vibrations by using a fiber-optic interferometer. The principle can be applied to induce phase shifts. While applying vibrations to the coiled fiber at various vibration frequencies, we recorded the variations in the interference fringes. The interference fringe moved to longer wavelengths when a vibration frequency was increased from 38.00 to 38.40 kHz. Phase variations of 3.59 rad/kHz were obtained. The ability to accurately control the phase by using the vibrations in the coiled fiber was demonstrated by the elimination of the depth degeneracy using the complex signal generated by the phase-shifted interference fringes. Using vibrations to control phase shifting can be an acceptable alternative to conventional methods and can be applied to resolve the depth ambiguity in Fourier domain optical coherence tomography.

Design of an Fiber-Coupled Laser Heterodyne Interferometer for the FLARE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frank, Samuel; Yoo, Jongsoo; Ji, Hantao; Jara-Almonte, Jon

2016-10-01

The FLARE (Facility for Laboratory Reconnection Experiments), which is currently under construction at PPPL, requires a complete set of laboratory plasma diagnostics. The Langmuir probes that will be used in the device to gather local density data require a reliable interferometer system to serve as baseline for density measurement calibration. A fully fiber-coupled infrared laser heterodyne interferometer has been designed in order to serve as the primary line-integrated electron density diagnostic. Thanks to advances in the communications industry many fiber optic devices and phase detection methods have advanced significantly becoming increasingly reliable and inexpensive. Fully fiber coupling a plasma interferometer greatly simplifies alignment procedures needed since the only free space laser path needing alignment is through the plasma itself. Fiber-coupling also provides significant resistance to vibrational noise, a common problem in plasma interferometry systems. This device also uses a greatly simplified phase detection scheme in which chips, originally developed for the communications industry, capable of directly detecting the phase shift of a signal with high time resolution. The design and initial performance of the system will be discussed.

Phase-shift detection in a Fourier-transform method for temperature sensing using a tapered fiber microknot resonator.

PubMed

Larocque, Hugo; Lu, Ping; Bao, Xiaoyi

2016-04-01

Phase-shift detection in a fast-Fourier-transform (FFT)-based spectrum analysis technique for temperature sensing using a tapered fiber microknot resonator is proposed and demonstrated. Multiple transmission peaks in the FFT spectrum of the device were identified as optical modes having completed different amounts of round trips within the ring structure. Temperature variation induced phase shifts for each set of peaks were characterized, and experimental results show that different peaks have distinct temperature sensitivities reaching values up to -0.542  rad/°C, which is about 10 times greater than that of a regular adiabatic taper Mach-Zehnder interferometer when using similar phase-tracking schemes.

Faraday-effect polarimeter-interferometer system for current density measurement on EAST

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, H. Q.; Jie, Y. X., E-mail: yx-jie@ipp.ac.cn; Zou, Z. Y.

2014-11-15

A multichannel far-infrared laser-based POlarimeter-INTerferometer (POINT) system utilizing the three-wave technique is under development for current density and electron density profile measurements in the EAST tokamak. Novel molybdenum retro-reflectors are mounted in the inside wall for the double-pass optical arrangement. A Digital Phase Detector with 250 kHz bandwidth, which will provide real-time Faraday rotation angle and density phase shift output, have been developed for use on the POINT system. Initial calibration indicates the electron line-integrated density resolution is less than 5 × 10{sup 16} m{sup −2} (∼2°), and the Faraday rotation angle rms phase noise is <0.1°.

Robust phase-shifting interferometry resistant to multiple disturbances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Qian; Yue, Xiaobin; Li, Lulu; Zhang, Hui; He, Jianguo

2018-04-01

Phase-shifting interferometry (PSI) is sensitive to many disturbances, including the environmental vibration, laser instability, phase-shifting error and camera nonlinearity. A robust PSI (RPSI) based on the temporal spectrum analysis is proposed to suppress the effects of these common disturbances. RPSI retrieves wavefront phase from the temporal Fourier spectrum peak, which is identified by detecting the modulus of spectrum, and a referencing method is presented to improve the phase extracting accuracy. Simulations demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of RPSI. Experimental results indicate that RPSI is resistant to common disturbances in implementing PSI and achieves accuracy better than 0.03 rad in the disturbed environment. RPSI relaxes requirements on the hardware, environment and operator, and provides an easy-to-use design of an interferometer.

One-shot phase-shifting phase-grating interferometry with modulation of polarization: case of four interferograms.

PubMed

Rodriguez-Zurita, Gustavo; Meneses-Fabian, Cruz; Toto-Arellano, Noel-Ivan; Vázquez-Castillo, José F; Robledo-Sánchez, Carlos

2008-05-26

An experimental setup for optical phase extraction from 2-D interferograms using a one-shot phase-shifting technique able to achieve four interferograms with 90 degrees phase shifts in between is presented. The system uses a common-path interferometer consisting of two windows in the input plane and a phase grating in Fourier plane as its pupil. Each window has a birefringent wave plate attached in order to achieve nearly circular polarization of opposite rotations one respect to the other after being illuminated with a 45 degrees linear polarized beam. In the output, interference of the fields associated with replicated windows (diffraction orders) is achieved by a proper choice of the windows spacing with respect to the grating period. The phase shifts to achieve four interferograms simultaneously to perform phase-shifting interferometry can be obtained by placing linear polarizers on each diffraction orders before detection at an appropriate angle. Some experimental results are shown.

Software for imaging phase-shift interference microscope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malinovski, I.; França, R. S.; Couceiro, I. B.

2018-03-01

In recent years absolute interference microscope was created at National Metrology Institute of Brazil (INMETRO). The instrument by principle of operation is imaging phase-shifting interferometer (PSI) equipped with two stabilized lasers of different colour as traceable reference wavelength sources. We report here some progress in development of the software for this instrument. The status of undergoing internal validation and verification of the software is also reported. In contrast with standard PSI method, different methodology of phase evaluation is applied. Therefore, instrument specific procedures for software validation and verification are adapted and discussed.

Integrated optics interferometer for high precision displacement measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Persegol, Dominique; Collomb, Virginie; Minier, Vincent

2017-11-01

We present the design and fabrication aspects of an integrated optics interferometer used in the optical head of a compact and lightweight displacement sensor developed for spatial applications. The process for fabricating the waveguides of the optical chip is a double thermal ion exchange of silver and sodium in a silicate glass. This two step process is adapted for the fabrication of high numerical aperture buried waveguides having negligible losses for bending radius as low as 10 mm. The optical head of the sensor is composed of a reference arm, a sensing arm and an interferometer which generates a one dimensional fringe pattern allowing a multiphase detection. Four waveguides placed at the output of the interferometer deliver four ideally 90° phase shifted signals.

Laser-ranging long-baseline differential atom interferometers for space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiow, Sheng-wey; Williams, Jason; Yu, Nan

2015-12-01

High-sensitivity differential atom interferometers (AIs) are promising for precision measurements in science frontiers in space, including gravity-field mapping for Earth science studies and gravitational wave detection. Difficulties associated with implementing long-baseline differential AIs have previously included the need for a high optical power, large differential Doppler shifts, and narrow dynamic range. We propose a configuration of twin AIs connected by a laser-ranging interferometer (LRI-AI) to provide precise information of the displacements between the two AI reference mirrors and also to phase-lock the two independent interferometer lasers over long distances, thereby drastically improving the practical feasibility of long-baseline differential AI measurements. We show that a properly implemented LRI-AI can achieve equivalent functionality to the conventional differential AI measurement configuration.

Nonlinear optical modulation in a plasmonic Bi:YIG Mach-Zehnder interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Firby, C. J.; Elezzabi, A. Y.

2017-02-01

In this work, we propose a magnetoplasmonic modulator for nonlinear radio-frequency (RF) modulation of an integrated optical signal. The modulator consists of a plasmonic Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), constructed of the ferrimagnetic garnet, bismuth-substituted yttrium iron garnet (Bi:YIG). The transverse component of the Bi:YIG magnetization induces a nonreciprocal phase shift (NRPS) onto the guided optical mode, which can be actively modulated through external magnetic fields. In an MZI, the modulated phase shift in turn modulates the output optical intensity. Due to the highly nonlinear evolution of the Bi:YIG magnetization, we show that the spectrum of the output modulated intensity signal can contain harmonics of the driving RF field, frequency splitting around the driving frequency, down-conversion, or mixing of multiple RF signals. This device provides a unique mechanism of simultaneously generating a number of modulation frequencies within a single device.

Full-field swept-source optical coherence tomography with phase-shifting techniques for skin cancer detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krauter, J.; Boettcher, T.; Körner, K.; Gronle, M.; Osten, W.; Passilly, N.; Froehly, L.; Perrin, S.; Gorecki, C.

2015-05-01

The EU-funded project VIAMOS1 proposes an optical coherence tomography system (OCT) for skin cancer detection, which combines full-field and full-range swept-source OCT in a multi-channel sensor for parallel detection. One of the project objectives is the development of new fabrication technologies for micro-optics, which makes it compatible to Micro-Opto-Electromechanical System technology (MOEMS). The basic system concept is a wafer-based Mirau interferometer array with an actuated reference mirror, which enables phase shifted interferogram detection and therefore reconstruction of the complex phase information, resulting in a higher measurement range with reduced image artifacts. This paper presents an experimental one-channel on-bench OCT system with bulk optics, which serves as a proof-of-concept setup for the final VIAMOS micro-system. It is based on a Linnik interferometer with a wavelength tuning light source and a camera for parallel A-Scan detection. Phase shifting interferometry techniques (PSI) are used for the suppression of the complex conjugate artifact, whose suppression reaches 36 dB. The sensitivity of the system is constant over the full-field with a mean value of 97 dB. OCT images are presented of a thin membrane microlens and a biological tissue (onion) as a preliminary demonstration.

Evaluation of a novel compact shearography system with DOE configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

da Silva, Fabio Aparecido Alves; Willemann, Daniel Pedro; Fantin, Analucia Vieira; Benedet, Mauro Eduardo; Gonçalves, Armando Albertazzi

2018-05-01

The most common optical configuration used to produce the lateral shifted images, in a Shearography system, is the Modified Michelson interferometer, because of its simple configuration. Tests carried out in recent years have shown that the modified interferometer of Michelson is a device that presents good results in a laboratory environment, but still presents difficulties in the field. These difficulties were the main motivation for the development of a more robust system, able to operate in unstable environments. This paper presents a new shearography configuration based on Diffractive Optical Element (DOE). Different from the diffractive common-path setups found in literature, in the proposed configuration, the DOE is positioned between the image sensor and the objective lens and mounted on a flexible holder, which has an important function to promote the system's robustness. Another advantage of the proposed system is in respect to phase shifting, since it is insensitive to wavelength variations. The lateral movement of the DOE produces a phase shifting in the shearography system. Since the pitch of the diffractive grating used is about 60 times greater than the wavelength of a green laser, the DOE configuration becomes much more robust to external influences compared to the Michelson Interferometer configuration. This work also presents an evaluation of the proposed shearography system designed, and some comparative results regarding a classical shearography system.

Simultaneous refractive index and temperature measurements using a tapered bend-resistant fiber interferometer.

PubMed

Lu, Ping; Harris, Jeremie; Xu, Yanping; Lu, Yuangang; Chen, Liang; Bao, Xiaoyi

2012-11-15

Simultaneous measurements of refractive index (RI) and temperature are proposed and experimentally demonstrated by using a tapered bend-resistant fiber interferometer. Different phase shifts of an inner and outer cladding mode of the fiber interferometer are measured to determine the temperature compensated RI of a glycerol solution. The temperature coefficients of the inner and outer cladding modes are -0.0253 rad/°C and -0.0523 rad/°C, and the RI coefficients are 4.0403 rad/RIU and 44.823 rad/RIU, respectively. The minimum errors of temperature and RI are 0.6°C and 0.001 RIU, respectively.

On-chip tunable dispersion in a ring laser gyroscope for enhanced rotation sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hao; Liu, Jiaming; Lin, Jian; Li, Wenxiu; Xue, Xia; Huang, Anping; Xiao, Zhisong

2016-05-01

A gyroscope structure with tailored local dispersion profile to enhance sensitivity is proposed, which uses lithium niobate (LiNbO3) thin film as the on-chip material of gyroscope's resonator. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structure as a coupler, which induces a different reference phase shift in each arm, is inserted into the position between ring resonator and output bus waveguide. Through modulating reference phase shift in MZI, theoretical rotation sensitivity enhancement as large as one order of magnitude is presented.

Method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring a plurality of spectral wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation

DOEpatents

Buican, Tudor N.; Martin, John C.

1990-01-01

An apparatus and method simultaneously measures a plurality of spectral wavelengths present in electromagnetic radiation. A modulatable birefringent optical element is employed to divide a polarized light beam into two components, thereby producing a phase difference in two resulting light beams such that the two beams can be made to interfere with one another when recombined, the interference pattern providing the wavelength information required for the analysis of the incident light. The interferometer thus created performs in a similar manner to a Michelson interferometer, but with no moving parts, and with a resolution dependent on the degree of phase shift introduced by the modulator.

Bandwidth in bolometric interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Charlassier, R.; Bunn, E. F.; Hamilton, J.-Ch.; Kaplan, J.; Malu, S.

2010-05-01

Context. Bolometric interferometry is a promising new technology with potential applications to the detection of B-mode polarization fluctuations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). A bolometric interferometer will have to take advantage of the wide spectral detection band of its bolometers to be competitive with imaging experiments. A crucial concern is that interferometers are assumed to be significantly affected by a spoiling effect known as bandwidth smearing. Aims: We investigate how the bandwidth modifies the work principle of a bolometric interferometer and affects its sensitivity to the CMB angular power spectra. Methods: We obtain analytical expressions for the broadband visibilities measured by broadband heterodyne and bolometric interferometers. We investigate how the visibilities must be reconstructed in a broadband bolometric interferometer and show that this critically depends on hardware properties of the modulation phase shifters. If the phase shifters produce shifts that are constant with respect to frequency, the instrument works like its monochromatic version (the modulation matrix is not modified), while if they vary (linearly or otherwise) with respect to frequency, one has to perform a special reconstruction scheme, which allows the visibilities to be reconstructed in frequency subbands. Using an angular power spectrum estimator that accounts for the bandwidth, we finally calculate the sensitivity of a broadband bolometric interferometer. A numerical simulation is performed that confirms the analytical results. Results: We conclude that (i) broadband bolometric interferometers allow broadband visibilities to be reconstructed regardless of the type of phase shifters used and (ii) for dedicated B-mode bolometric interferometers, the sensitivity loss caused by bandwidth smearing is quite acceptable, even for wideband instruments (a factor of 2 loss for a typical 20% bandwidth experiment).

Phase-Shifting Zernike Interferometer Wavefront Sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wallace, J. Kent; Rao, Shanti; Jensen-Clemb, Rebecca M.; Serabyn, Gene

2011-01-01

The canonical Zernike phase-contrast technique1,2,3,4 transforms a phase object in one plane into an intensity object in the conjugate plane. This is done by applying a static pi/2 phase shift to the central core (approx. lambda/D) of the PSF which is intermediate between the input and output planes. Here we present a new architecture for this sensor. First, the optical system is simple and all reflective. Second, the phase shift in the central core of the PSF is dynamic and or arbitrary size. This common-path, all-reflective design makes it minimally sensitive to vibration, polarization and wavelength. We review the theory of operation, describe the optical system, summarize numerical simulations and sensitivities and review results from a laboratory demonstration of this novel instrument

Phase-Shifting Zernike Interferometer Wavefront Sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wallace, J. Kent; Rao, Shanti; Jensen-Clem, Rebecca M.

2011-01-01

The canonical Zernike phase-contrast technique transforms a phase object in one plane into an intensity object in the conjugate plane. This is done by applying a static pi/2 phase shift to the central core (approx. lambda/diameter) of the PSF which is intermediate between the input and output plane. Here we present a new architecture for this sensor. First, the optical system is simple and all reflective, and second the phase shift in the central core of the PSF is dynamic and can be made arbitrarily large. This common-path, all-reflective design makes it minimally sensitive to vibration, polarization and wavelength. We review the theory of operation, describe the optical system, summarize numerical simulations and sensitivities and review results from a laboratory demonstration of this novel instrument.

Design of a high-speed optical dark-soliton detector using a phase-shifted waveguide Bragg grating in reflection.

PubMed

Ngo, Nam Quoc

2007-12-01

A theoretical study of a new application of a simple pi-phase-shifted waveguide Bragg grating (PSWBG) in reflection mode as a high-speed optical dark-soliton detector is presented. The PSWBG consists of two concatenated identical uniform waveguide Bragg gratings with a pi phase shift between them. The reflective PSWBG, with grating reflectivities equal to 0.9, a free spectral range of 1.91 THz, and a nonlinear phase response, can convert a 40 Gbit/s noisy dark-soliton signal into a high-quality 40 Gbit/s return-to-zero signal with a peak power level of approximately 17.5 dB greater than that by the existing Mach-Zehnder interferometer with free spectral range of 1.91 THz and a linear phase response.

Small sensitivity to temperature variations of Si-photonic Mach-Zehnder interferometer using Si and SiN waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hiraki, Tatsurou; Fukuda, Hiroshi; Yamada, Koji; Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi

2015-03-01

We demonstrated a small sensitivity to temperature variations of delay-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer (DL MZI) on a Si photonics platform. The key technique is to balance a thermo-optic effect in the two arms by using waveguide made of different materials. With silicon and silicon nitride waveguides, the fabricated DL MZI with a free-spectrum range of ~40 GHz showed a wavelength shift of -2.8 pm/K with temperature variations, which is 24 times smaller than that of the conventional Si-waveguide DL MZI. We also demonstrated the decoding of the 40-Gbit/s differential phase-shift keying signals to on-off keying signals with various temperatures. The tolerable temperature variation for the acceptable power penalty was significantly improved due to the small wavelength shifts.

An extrinsic fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer for dynamic displacement measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pullteap, S.; Seat, H. C.

2015-03-01

A versatile fiber interferometer was proposed for high precision measurement. The sensor exploited a double-cavity within the unique sensing arm of an extrinsic-type fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer to produce the quadrature phase-shifted interference fringes. Interference signal processing was carried out using a modified zero-crossing (fringe) counting technique to demodulate two sets of fringes. The fiber interferometer has been successfully employed for dynamic displacement measurement under different displacement profiles over a range of 0.7 μm to 140 μm. A dedicated computer incorporating the demodulation algorithm was next used to interpret these detected data as well as plot the displacement information with a resolution of λ/64. A commercial displacement sensor was employed for comparison purposes with the experimental data obtained from the fiber interferometer as well as to gauge its performance, resulting in the maximum error of 2.8% over the entire displacement range studied.

Surface characterization based on optical phase shifting interferometry

DOEpatents

Mello, Michael , Rosakis; Ares, J [Altadena, CA

2011-08-02

Apparatus, techniques and systems for implementing an optical interferometer to measure surfaces, including mapping of instantaneous curvature or in-plane and out-of-plane displacement field gradients of a sample surface based on obtaining and processing four optical interferograms from a common optical reflected beam from the sample surface that are relatively separated in phase by .pi./2.

A Liquid Optical Phase Shifter with an Embedded Electrowetting Actuator

PubMed Central

Ashtiani, Alireza Ousati; Jiang, Hongrui

2017-01-01

We demonstrate an electrowetting-based liquid optical phase shifter. The phase shifter consists of two immiscible liquid layers with different refractive indices. Sandwiched between the two liquids is a rigid membrane that moves freely along the optical axis and supported by a compliant surround. When applied with a pressure, the thicknesses of both liquid layers change, which induces a difference in optical path, resulting in a phase shift. A miniaturized electrowetting-based actuator is used to produce hydraulic pressure. A multi-layered SU8 bonded structure was fabricated. A phase shift of 171° was observed when the device was incorporated in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and driven with 100 V. PMID:29038640

LTP interferometer—noise sources and performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robertson, David; Killow, Christian; Ward, Harry; Hough, Jim; Heinzel, Gerhard; Garcia, Antonio; Wand, Vinzenz; Johann, Ulrich; Braxmaier, Claus

2005-05-01

The LISA Technology Package (LTP) uses laser interferometry to measure the changes in relative displacement between two inertial test masses. The goals of the mission require a displacement measuring precision of 10 pm Hz-1/2 at frequencies in the 3 30 mHz band. We report on progress with a prototype LTP interferometer optical bench in which fused silica mirrors and beamsplitters are fixed to a ZERODUR® substrate using hydroxide catalysis bonding to form a rigid interferometer. The couplings to displacement noise of this interferometer of two expected noise sources—laser frequency noise and ambient temperature fluctuations—have been investigated, and an additional, unexpected, noise source has been identified. The additional noise is due to small amounts of signal at the heterodyne frequency arriving at the photodiode preamplifiers with a phase that quasistatically changes with respect to the optical signal. The phase shift is caused by differential changes in the external optical paths the beams travel before they reach the rigid interferometer. Two different external path length stabilization systems have been demonstrated and these allowed the performance of the overall system to meet the LTP displacement noise requirement.

WINDII, the wind imaging interferometer on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shepherd, G. G.; Thuillier, G.; Gault, W. A.; Solheim, B. H.; Hersom, C.; Alunni, J. M.; Brun, J.-F.; Brune, S.; Charlot, P.; Cogger, L. L.

1993-01-01

The WIND imaging interferometer (WINDII) was launched on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) on September 12, 1991. This joint project, sponsored by the Canadian Space Agency and the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, in collaboration with NASA, has the responsibility of measuring the global wind pattern at the top of the altitude range covered by UARS. WINDII measures wind, temperature, and emission rate over the altitude range 80 to 300 km by using the visible region airglow emission from these altitudes as a target and employing optical Doppler interferometry to measure the small wavelength shifts of the narrow atomic and molecular airglow emission lines induced by the bulk velocity of the atmosphere carrying the emitting species. The instrument used is an all-glass field-widened achromatically and thermally compensated phase-stepping Michelson interferometer, along with a bare CCD detector that images the airglow limb through the interferometer. A sequence of phase-stepped images is processed to derive the wind velocity for two orthogonal view directions, yielding the vector horizontal wind. The process of data analysis, including the inversion of apparent quantities to vertical profiles, is described.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kulchin, Yurii N; Vitrik, O B; Gurbatov, S O

The phase of light propagating through a bent optical fibre is shown to depend on the refractive index of the medium surrounding the fibre cladding when there is resonance coupling between the guided core mode and cladding modes. This shifts the spectral maxima in the bent fibre-optic Fabry - Perot interferometer. The highest phase and spectral sensitivities achieved with this interferometer configuration are 0.71 and 0.077, respectively, and enable changes in the refractive index of the ambient medium down to 5 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -6} to be detected. This makes the proposed approach potentially attractive for producing highly stable, precision refractivemore » index sensors capable of solving a wide range of liquid refractometry problems.« less

Linear phase encoding for holographic data storage with a single phase-only spatial light modulator.

PubMed

Nobukawa, Teruyoshi; Nomura, Takanori

2016-04-01

A linear phase encoding is presented for realizing a compact and simple holographic data storage system with a single spatial light modulator (SLM). This encoding method makes it possible to modulate a complex amplitude distribution with a single phase-only SLM in a holographic storage system. In addition, an undesired light due to the imperfection of an SLM can be removed by spatial frequency filtering with a Nyquist aperture. The linear phase encoding is introduced to coaxial holographic data storage. The generation of a signal beam using linear phase encoding is experimentally verified in an interferometer. In a coaxial holographic data storage system, single data recording, shift selectivity, and shift multiplexed recording are experimentally demonstrated.

Phase-sensitive two-dimensional neutron shearing interferometer and Hartmann sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Baker, Kevin

2015-12-08

A neutron imaging system detects both the phase shift and absorption of neutrons passing through an object. The neutron imaging system is based on either of two different neutron wavefront sensor techniques: 2-D shearing interferometry and Hartmann wavefront sensing. Both approaches measure an entire two-dimensional neutron complex field, including its amplitude and phase. Each measures the full-field, two-dimensional phase gradients and, concomitantly, the two-dimensional amplitude mapping, requiring only a single measurement.

Speckle-interferometric measurement system of 3D deformation to obtain thickness changes of thin specimen under tensile loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kowarsch, Robert; Zhang, Jiajun; Sguazzo, Carmen; Hartmann, Stefan; Rembe, Christian

2017-06-01

The analysis of materials and geometries in tensile tests and the extraction of mechanic parameters is an important field in solid mechanics. Especially the measurement of thickness changes is important to obtain accurate strain information of specimens under tensile loads. Current optical measurement methods comprising 3D digital image correlation enable thickness-change measurement only with nm-resolution. We present a phase-shifting electronic speckle-pattern interferometer in combination with speckle-correlation technique to measure the 3D deformation. The phase-shift for the interferometer is introduced by fast wavelength tuning of a visible diode laser by injection current. In a post-processing step, both measurements can be combined to reconstruct the 3D deformation. In this contribution, results of a 3Ddeformation measurement for a polymer membrane are presented. These measurements show sufficient resolution for the detection of 3D deformations of thin specimen in tensile test. In future work we address the thickness changes of thin specimen under tensile loads.

A Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on orbital angular momentum for improved vortex coronagraph efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piron, P.; Delacroix, C.; Huby, E.; Mawet, D.; Karlsson, M.; Ruane, G.; Habraken, S.; Absil, O.; Surdej, J.

2015-09-01

The Annular Groove Phase Mask (AGPM) is a vectorial vortex phase mask. It acts as a half-wave plate with a radial fast axis orientation operating in the mid infrared domain. When placed at the focus of a telescope element provides a continuous helical phase ramp for an on axis sources, which creates the orbital angular momentum. Thanks to that phase, the intensity of the central source is canceled by a down-stream pupil stop, while the off axis sources are not affected. However due to experimental conditions the nulling is hardly perfect. To improve the null, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer containing Dove prisms differently oriented can be proposed to sort out light based on its orbital angular momentum (OAM). Thanks to the differential rotation of the beam, a π phase shift is achieved for the on axis light affected by a non zero OAM. Therefore the contrast between the star and its faint companion is enhanced. Nevertheless, due the Dove prisms birefringence, the performance of the interferometer is relatively poor. To solve this problem, we propose to add a birefringent wave-plate in each arm to compensate this birefringence. In this paper, we will develop the mathematical model of the wave front using the Jones formalism. The performance of the interferometer is at first computed for the simple version without the birefringent plate. Then the effect of the birefringent plate is be mathematically described and the performance is re-computed.

Imaging of cochlear tissue with a grating interferometer and hard X-rays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Richter, Claus-Peter; Shintani-Smith, Stephanie; Fishman, Andrew

This article addresses an important current development in medical and biological imaging: the possibility of imaging soft tissue at resolutions in the micron range using hard X-rays. Challenging environments, including the cochlea, require the imaging of soft tissue structure surrounded by bone. We demonstrate that cochlear soft tissue structures can be imaged with hard X-ray phase contrast. Furthermore, we show that only a thin slice of the tissue is required to introduce a large phase shift. It is likely that the phase contrast image of the soft tissue structures is sufficient to image the structures even if surrounded by bone.more » For the present set of experiments, structures with low-absorption contrast have been visualized using in-line phase contrast imaging and a grating interferometer. The experiments have been performed at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratories, a third generation source of synchrotron radiation. The source provides highly coherent X-ray radiation with high-photon flux (>10{sup 12} photons/s) at high-photon energies (5-70 keV). Radiographic and light microscopy images of the gerbil cochlear slice samples were compared. It has been determined that a 20-{micro}m thick tissue slice induces a phase shift between 1/3{pi} and 2/3{pi}.« less

Instantaneous phase-shifting Fizeau interferometry with high-speed pixelated phase-mask camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yatagai, Toyohiko; Jackin, Boaz Jessie; Ono, Akira; Kiyohara, Kosuke; Noguchi, Masato; Yoshii, Minoru; Kiyohara, Motosuke; Niwa, Hayato; Ikuo, Kazuyuki; Onuma, Takashi

2015-08-01

A Fizeou interferometer with instantaneous phase-shifting ability using a Wollaston prism is designed. to measure dynamic phase change of objects, a high-speed video camera of 10-5s of shutter speed is used with a pixelated phase-mask of 1024 × 1024 elements. The light source used is a laser of wavelength 532 nm which is split into orthogonal polarization states by passing through a Wollaston prism. By adjusting the tilt of the reference surface it is possible to make the reference and object beam with orthogonal polarizations states to coincide and interfere. Then the pixelated phase-mask camera calculate the phase changes and hence the optical path length difference. Vibration of speakers and turbulence of air flow were successfully measured in 7,000 frames/sec.

Dual demodulation interferometer with two-wave mixing in GaAs photorefractive crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhenzhen, Zhang; Zhongqing, Jia; Guangrong, Ji; Qiwu, Wang

2018-07-01

A dual demodulation interferometer with two-wave mixing (TWM) in the GaAs photorefractive crystal (PRC) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The GaAs PRC has tiny temperature change under high voltage thus not requiring thermoelectric cooler (TEC) to stabilize the temperature, and adaptive to low frequency fluctuation below 200 Hz. The system is an unbalanced TWM interferometer, which could demodulate the phase change both space variation and wavelength shift induced by strain. Two demodulation modes' formulas are provided in theory respectively. Experimental results have been tested and compared with theoretical analysis, demonstrating that it is a practical and flexible system for detection of mechanical vibration or structure health monitoring (SHM) in engineering by selecting different demodulation mode.

Parallel multiplex laser feedback interferometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Song; Tan, Yidong; Zhang, Shulian, E-mail: zsl-dpi@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

2013-12-15

We present a parallel multiplex laser feedback interferometer based on spatial multiplexing which avoids the signal crosstalk in the former feedback interferometer. The interferometer outputs two close parallel laser beams, whose frequencies are shifted by two acousto-optic modulators by 2Ω simultaneously. A static reference mirror is inserted into one of the optical paths as the reference optical path. The other beam impinges on the target as the measurement optical path. Phase variations of the two feedback laser beams are simultaneously measured through heterodyne demodulation with two different detectors. Their subtraction accurately reflects the target displacement. Under typical room conditions, experimentalmore » results show a resolution of 1.6 nm and accuracy of 7.8 nm within the range of 100 μm.« less

Composite-Light-Pulse Technique for High-Precision Atom Interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berg, P.; Abend, S.; Tackmann, G.; Schubert, C.; Giese, E.; Schleich, W. P.; Narducci, F. A.; Ertmer, W.; Rasel, E. M.

2015-02-01

We realize beam splitters and mirrors for atom waves by employing a sequence of light pulses rather than individual ones. In this way we can tailor atom interferometers with improved sensitivity and accuracy. We demonstrate our method of composite pulses by creating a symmetric matter-wave interferometer which combines the advantages of conventional Bragg- and Raman-type concepts. This feature leads to an interferometer with a high immunity to technical noise allowing us to devise a large-area Sagnac gyroscope yielding a phase shift of 6.5 rad due to the Earth's rotation. With this device we achieve a rotation rate precision of 120 nrad s-1 Hz-1 /2 and determine the Earth's rotation rate with a relative uncertainty of 1.2%.

An Interferometric Study of Epoxy Polymerization Kinetics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Page, Melissa A.; Tandy Grubbs, W.

1999-05-01

An interferometric method for monitoring polymerization kinetics is described. The experimental apparatus can be constructed from items commonly available in undergraduate laboratories. It consists of a low power helium-neon laser, a home-built Michelson interferometer, and a photodiode light detector. When a polymerizing sample is placed in one arm of the Michelson interferometer, the variation in refractive index will cause a corresponding shift in the phase of the coherent optical beam that passes through the sample, and the output of the interferometer will subsequently fluctuate between constructive and destructive interference. The oscillation in the interferometer output intensity is monitored as a function of time with the photodiode. The time between successive maxima (or minima) is used to calculate the change in refractive index with time (Dn/Dt), which is subsequently used as a phenomenological definition of polymerization rate. We have utilized this device to collect and compare curing profiles of commercially available epoxy glues.

Teleportation-based quantum information processing with Majorana zero modes

DOE PAGES

Vijay, Sagar; Fu, Liang

2016-12-29

In this work, we present a measurement-based scheme for performing braiding operations on Majorana zero modes in mesoscopic superconductor islands and for detecting their non-Abelian statistics without moving or hybridizing them. In our scheme for “braiding without braiding”, the topological qubit encoded in any pair of well-separated Majorana zero modes is read out from the transmission phase shift in electron teleportation through the island in the Coulomb-blockade regime. Finally, we propose experimental setups to measure the teleportation phase shift via conductance in an electron interferometer or persistent current in a closed loop.

Teleportation-based quantum information processing with Majorana zero modes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vijay, Sagar; Fu, Liang

In this work, we present a measurement-based scheme for performing braiding operations on Majorana zero modes in mesoscopic superconductor islands and for detecting their non-Abelian statistics without moving or hybridizing them. In our scheme for “braiding without braiding”, the topological qubit encoded in any pair of well-separated Majorana zero modes is read out from the transmission phase shift in electron teleportation through the island in the Coulomb-blockade regime. Finally, we propose experimental setups to measure the teleportation phase shift via conductance in an electron interferometer or persistent current in a closed loop.

Flight phasemeter on the Laser Ranging Interferometer on the GRACE Follow-On mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bachman, B.; de Vine, G.; Dickson, J.; Dubovitsky, S.; Liu, J.; Klipstein, W.; McKenzie, K.; Spero, R.; Sutton, A.; Ware, B.; Woodruff, C.

2017-05-01

As the first inter-spacecraft laser interferometer, the Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI) on the GRACE Follow-On Mission will demonstrate interferometry technology relevant to the LISA mission. This paper focuses on the completed LRI Laser Ranging Processor (LRP), which includes heterodyne signal phase tracking at μ {{cycle/}}\\sqrt{{{Hz}}} precision, differential wavefront sensing, offset frequency phase locking and Pound-Drever-Hall laser stabilization. The LRI design has characteristics that are similar to those for LISA: 1064 nm NPRO laser source, science bandwidth in the mHz range, MHz-range intermediate frequency and Doppler shift, detected optical power of tens of picoWatts. Laser frequency stabilization has been demonstrated at a level below 30{{Hz/}}\\sqrt{{{Hz}}}, better than the LISA requirement of 300{{Hz/}}\\sqrt{{{Hz}}}. The LRP has completed all performance testing and environmental qualification and has been delivered to the GRACE Follow-On spacecraft. The LRI is poised to test the LISA techniques of tone-assisted time delay interferometry and arm-locking. GRACE Follow-On launches in 2017.

Dual-domain point diffraction interferometer

DOEpatents

Naulleau, Patrick P.; Goldberg, Kenneth Alan

2000-01-01

A hybrid spatial/temporal-domain point diffraction interferometer (referred to as the dual-domain PS/PDI) that is capable of suppressing the scattered-reference-light noise that hinders the conventional PS/PDI is provided. The dual-domain PS/PDI combines the separate noise-suppression capabilities of the widely-used phase-shifting and Fourier-transform fringe pattern analysis methods. The dual-domain PS/PDI relies on both a more restrictive implementation of the image plane PS/PDI mask and a new analysis method to be applied to the interferograms generated and recorded by the modified PS/PDI. The more restrictive PS/PDI mask guarantees the elimination of spatial-frequency crosstalk between the signal and the scattered-light noise arising from scattered-reference-light interfering with the test beam. The new dual-domain analysis method is then used to eliminate scattered-light noise arising from both the scattered-reference-light interfering with the test beam and the scattered-reference-light interfering with the "true" pinhole-diffracted reference light. The dual-domain analysis method has also been demonstrated to provide performance enhancement when using the non-optimized standard PS/PDI design. The dual-domain PS/PDI is essentially a three-tiered filtering system composed of lowpass spatial-filtering the test-beam electric field using the more restrictive PS/PDI mask, bandpass spatial-filtering the individual interferogram irradiance frames making up the phase-shifting series, and bandpass temporal-filtering the phase-shifting series as a whole.

Formation of Fourier phase shifts in the solar Ni I 6768 A line

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Harrison P.

1989-01-01

A formalism is developed to understand better how Doppler shifts of spectrum lines as inferred from phase shifts in the Fourier transforms of line profiles are related to the underlying velocity structures which they are intended to measure. With a standard model atmosphere and a simplified, quasi-LTE treatment of line formation, the formalism is applied to the Ni I 6768 A line, which has been selected for use with a network of imaging interferometers under development by the Global Oscillations Network Group for research in helioseismology. Fourier phase shifts are found to be a remarkably linear measure of velocity even in the presence of gradients and unresolved lateral variations in the assumed velocity field. An assumed outward increase in amplitude of a model oscillatory velocity is noticeably reflected in the center-to-limb behavior of the simulated velocity measure, and a sample model of solar granulation is found to have a strong influence on the formation of the Fourier phase.

Study of Optical Fiber Sensors for Cryogenic Temperature Measurements.

PubMed

De Miguel-Soto, Veronica; Leandro, Daniel; Lopez-Aldaba, Aitor; Beato-López, Juan Jesus; Pérez-Landazábal, José Ignacio; Auguste, Jean-Louis; Jamier, Raphael; Roy, Philippe; Lopez-Amo, Manuel

2017-11-30

In this work, the performance of five different fiber optic sensors at cryogenic temperatures has been analyzed. A photonic crystal fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer, two Sagnac interferometers, a commercial fiber Bragg grating (FBG), and a π-phase shifted fiber Bragg grating interrogated in a random distributed feedback fiber laser have been studied. Their sensitivities and resolutions as sensors for cryogenic temperatures have been compared regarding their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, the results have been compared with the given by a commercial optical backscatter reflectometer that allowed for distributed temperature measurements of a single mode fiber.

Study of Optical Fiber Sensors for Cryogenic Temperature Measurements

PubMed Central

Leandro, Daniel; Lopez-Aldaba, Aitor; Beato-López, Juan Jesus; Pérez-Landazábal, José Ignacio; Auguste, Jean-Louis; Jamier, Raphael; Roy, Philippe; Lopez-Amo, Manuel

2017-01-01

In this work, the performance of five different fiber optic sensors at cryogenic temperatures has been analyzed. A photonic crystal fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer, two Sagnac interferometers, a commercial fiber Bragg grating (FBG), and a π-phase shifted fiber Bragg grating interrogated in a random distributed feedback fiber laser have been studied. Their sensitivities and resolutions as sensors for cryogenic temperatures have been compared regarding their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, the results have been compared with the given by a commercial optical backscatter reflectometer that allowed for distributed temperature measurements of a single mode fiber. PMID:29189755

Spectrally controlled interferometry for measurements of flat and spherical optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salsbury, Chase; Olszak, Artur G.

2017-10-01

Conventional interferometry is widely used to measure spherical and at surfaces with nanometer level precision but is plagued by back reflections. We describe a new method of isolating the measurement surface by controlling spectral properties of the source (Spectrally Controlled Interferometry - SCI). Using spectral modulation of the interferometer's source enables formation of localized fringes where the optical path difference is non-zero. As a consequence it becomes possible to form white-light like fringes in common path interferometers, such as the Fizeau. The proposed setup does not require mechanical phase shifting, resulting in simpler instruments and the ability to upgrade existing interferometers. Furthermore, it allows absolute measurement of distance, including radius of curvature of lenses in a single setup with possibility of improving the throughput and removing some modes of failure.

A Simple Configuration for Quantitative Phase Contrast Microscopy of Transmissible Samples

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sengupta, Chandan; Dasgupta, Koustav; Bhattacharya, K.

Phase microscopy attempts to visualize and quantify the phase distribution of samples which are otherwise invisible under microscope without the use of stains. The two principal approaches to phase microscopy are essentially those of Fourier plane modulation and interferometric techniques. Although the former, first proposed by Zernike, had been the harbinger of phase microscopy, it was the latter that allowed for quantitative evaluation of phase samples. However interferometric techniques are fraught with associated problems such as complicated setup involving mirrors and beam-splitters, the need for a matched objective in the reference arm and also the need for vibration isolation. The present work proposes a single element cube beam-splitter (CBS) interferometer combined with a microscope objective (MO) for interference microscopy. Because of the monolithic nature of the interferometer, the system is almost insensitive to vibrations and relatively simple to align. It will be shown that phase shifting properties may also be introduced by suitable and proper use of polarizing devices. Initial results showing the quantitative three dimensional phase profiles of simulated and actual biological specimens are presented.

An "unreasonable effectiveness" of Hilbert transform for the transition phase behavior in an Aharonov-Bohm two-path interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Englman, R.

2016-08-01

The recent phase shift data of Takada et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 113 (2014) 126601) for a two level system are reconstructed from their current intensity curves by the method of Hilbert transform, for which the underlying Physics is the principle of causality. An introductory algebraic model illustrates pedagogically the working of the method and leads to newly derived relationships involving phenomenological parameters, in particular for the sign of the phase slope between the resonance peaks. While the parametrization of the experimental current intensity data in terms of a few model parameters shows only a qualitative agreement for the phase shift, due to the strong impact of small, detailed variations in the experimental intensity curve on the phase behavior, the numerical Hilbert transform yields a satisfactory reproduction of the phase.

SU-E-T-410: Fringe Stability and Phase Shift Measurements in a Michelson Interferometer for Optical Calorimetry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Flores-Martinez, E; Malin, M; DeWerd, L

2014-06-01

Purpose: To identify the variables limiting the resolution of a Michelson interferometer used to measure phase shifts (PS) in water as part of a radiometric calorimeter. Methods: We investigated the output stability of a He-Ne laser and a laser diode. The short and long term stability of the fringe pattern in a Michelson interferometer was tested with different types of lasers, thermal insulation arrangements, damping systems and optical mounts to optimize system performance. PS were induced by electrically heating water in a 1 cm quartz cuvette located in one of the interferometer arms. The PS was calculated from fringe intensitymore » changes and compared to a calculated PS using thermocouple-measured temperature changes in the water. Results: The intensity of the laser diode is more stable, but the gas laser’s profile is more suitable for fringe analysis and has better temporal coherence. The laser requires a warm-up time of 4 hours before its output is stabilized (SNR>95). The fringe’s stability strongly depends on the thermal insulation. When the interferometer is exposed to ambient temperature swings of 0.7 K, it is not possible to stabilize the fringe pattern. Enclosing the system in a 2.5 cm-thick Styrofoam box improves the SNR, but further insulation will be needed to increase the SNR above 50. High frequency noise is significantly reduced by damping the system.Inducing a temperature rise in water, starting at 299 K, the average temperature increase for a 2π PS is 0.29 ± 0.02 K and the proportionality constant is -21.1 ± 0.8 radians/K. This is 5.8% lower than the calculated value using the thermocouple. Conclusion: Interferometric PS measurements of temperature may provide an alternative to thermistors for water calorimetry. The resolution of the current prototype is limited by ambient temperature stability. Calculated and measured thermally-induced PS in water agreed to within 5.8%.« less

Search for strongly coupled Chameleon scalar field with neutron interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, K.; Arif, M.; Cory, D.; Haun, R.; Heacock, B.; Huber, M.; Nsofini, J.; Pushin, D. A.; Saggu, P.; Sarenac, D.; Shahi, C.; Skavysh, V.; Snow, M.; Young, A.

2015-04-01

The dark energy proposed to explain the observed accelerated expansion of the universe is not understood. A chameleon scalar field proposed as a dark energy candidate can explain the accelerated expansion and evade all current gravity experimental bounds. It features an effective range of the chameleon scalar field that depends on the local mass density. Hence a perfect crystal neutron interferometer, that measures relative phase shift between two paths, is a prefect tool to search for the chameleon field. We are preparing a two-chamber helium gas cell for the neutron interferometer. We can lower the pressure in one cell so low that the chameleon field range expands into the cell and causes a measurable neutron phase shift while keeping the pressure difference constant. We expect to set a new upper limit of the Chameleon field by at least one order of magnitude. This work is supported by NSF Grant 1205977, DOE Grant DE-FG02-97ER41042, Canadian Excellence Research Chairs program, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program

Supersensitive ancilla-based adaptive quantum phase estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larson, Walker; Saleh, Bahaa E. A.

2017-10-01

The supersensitivity attained in quantum phase estimation is known to be compromised in the presence of decoherence. This is particularly patent at blind spots—phase values at which sensitivity is totally lost. One remedy is to use a precisely known reference phase to shift the operation point to a less vulnerable phase value. Since this is not always feasible, we present here an alternative approach based on combining the probe with an ancillary degree of freedom containing adjustable parameters to create an entangled quantum state of higher dimension. We validate this concept by simulating a configuration of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a two-photon probe and a polarization ancilla of adjustable parameters, entangled at a polarizing beam splitter. At the interferometer output, the photons are measured after an adjustable unitary transformation in the polarization subspace. Through calculation of the Fisher information and simulation of an estimation procedure, we show that optimizing the adjustable polarization parameters using an adaptive measurement process provides globally supersensitive unbiased phase estimates for a range of decoherence levels, without prior information or a reference phase.

Dual interferometer for dynamic measurement of corneal topography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micali, Jason D.; Greivenkamp, John E.

2016-08-01

The cornea is the anterior most surface of the eye and plays a critical role in vision. A thin fluid layer, the tear film, coats the outer surface of the cornea and serves to protect, nourish, and lubricate the cornea. At the same time, the tear film is responsible for creating a smooth continuous surface, where the majority of refraction takes place in the eye. A significant component of vision quality is determined by the shape of the cornea and stability of the tear film. A dual interferometer system for measuring the dynamic corneal topography is designed, built, verified, and qualified by testing on human subjects. The system consists of two coaligned simultaneous phase-shifting polarization-splitting Twyman-Green interferometers. The primary interferometer measures the surface of the tear film while the secondary interferometer tracks the absolute position of the cornea, which provides enough information to reconstruct the absolute shape of the cornea. The results are high-resolution and high-accuracy surface topography measurements of the in vivo tear film and cornea that are captured at standard camera frame rates.

Digital phase demodulation for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y.; Strum, R.; Stiles, D.; Long, C.; Rakhman, A.; Blokland, W.; Winder, D.; Riemer, B.; Wendel, M.

2018-03-01

We describe a digital phase demodulation scheme for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors by employing a simple generation of phase-shifted signals at the interrogation interferometer. The scheme allows a real-time calibration process and offers capability of measuring large variations (up to the coherence of the light source) at the bandwidth that is only limited by the data acquisition system. The proposed phase demodulation method is analytically derived and its validity and performance are experimentally verified using fiber-optic Fabry-Perot sensors for measurement of strains and vibrations.

Fast, optically controlled Kerr phase shifter for digital signal processing.

PubMed

Li, R B; Deng, L; Hagley, E W; Payne, M G; Bienfang, J C; Levine, Z H

2013-05-01

We demonstrate an optically controlled Kerr phase shifter using a room-temperature 85Rb vapor operating in a Raman gain scheme. Phase shifts from zero to π relative to an unshifted reference wave are observed, and gated operations are demonstrated. We further demonstrate the versatile digital manipulation of encoded signal light with an encoded phase-control light field using an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Generalizations of this scheme should be capable of full manipulation of a digitized signal field at high speed, opening the door to future applications.

Observation of human tissue with phase-contrast x-ray computed tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momose, Atsushi; Takeda, Tohoru; Itai, Yuji; Tu, Jinhong; Hirano, Keiichi

1999-05-01

Human tissues obtained from cancerous kidneys fixed in formalin were observed with phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography (CT) using 17.7-keV synchrotron X-rays. By measuring the distributions of the X-ray phase shift caused by samples using an X-ray interferometer, sectional images that map the distribution of the refractive index were reconstructed. Because of the high sensitivity of phase- contrast X-ray CT, a cancerous lesion was differentiated from normal tissue and a variety of other structures were revealed without the need for staining.

Approaches for Achieving Broadband Achromatic Phase Shifts for Visible Nulling Coronagraphy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bolcar, Matthew R.; Lyon, Richard G.

2012-01-01

Visible nulling coronagraphy is one of the few approaches to the direct detection and characterization of Jovian and Terrestrial exoplanets that works with segmented aperture telescopes. Jovian and Terrestrial planets require at least 10(exp -9) and 10(exp -10) image plane contrasts, respectively, within the spectral bandpass and thus require a nearly achromatic pi-phase difference between the arms of the interferometer. An achromatic pi-phase shift can be achieved by several techniques, including sequential angled thick glass plates of varying dispersive materials, distributed thin-film multilayer coatings, and techniques that leverage the polarization-dependent phase shift of total-internal reflections. Herein we describe two such techniques: sequential thick glass plates and Fresnel rhomb prisms. A viable technique must achieve the achromatic phase shift while simultaneously minimizing the intensity difference, chromatic beam spread and polarization variation between each arm. In this paper we describe the above techniques and report on efforts to design, model, fabricate, align the trades associated with each technique that will lead to an implementations of the most promising one in Goddard's Visible Nulling Coronagraph (VNC).

In Situ alignment system for phase-shifting point-diffraction interferometry

DOEpatents

Goldberg, Kenneth Alan; Naulleau, Patrick P.

2000-01-01

A device and method to facilitate the gross alignment of patterned object- and image-plane masks in optical systems such as the phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer are provided. When an array of similar pinholes or discreet mask fields is used, confusion can occur over the alignment of the focused beams within the field. Adding to the mask pattern a circumscribed or inscribed set of symbols that are identifiable in situ facilitates the unambiguous gross alignment of the object- and/or image-plane masks. Alternatively, a system of markings can be encoded directly into the window shape to accomplish this same task.

Harmonics rejection in pixelated interferograms using spatio-temporal demodulation.

PubMed

Padilla, J M; Servin, M; Estrada, J C

2011-09-26

Pixelated phase-mask interferograms have become an industry standard in spatial phase-shifting interferometry. These pixelated interferograms allow full wavefront encoding using a single interferogram. This allows the study of fast dynamic events in hostile mechanical environments. Recently an error-free demodulation method for ideal pixelated interferograms was proposed. However, non-ideal conditions in interferometry may arise due to non-linear response of the CCD camera, multiple light paths in the interferometer, etc. These conditions generate non-sinusoidal fringes containing harmonics which degrade the phase estimation. Here we show that two-dimensional Fourier demodulation of pixelated interferograms rejects most harmonics except the complex ones at {-3(rd), +5(th), -7(th), +9(th), -11(th),…}. We propose temporal phase-shifting to remove these remaining harmonics. In particular, a 2-step phase-shifting algorithm is used to eliminate the -3(rd) and +5(th) complex harmonics, while a 3-step one is used to remove the -3(rd), +5<(th), -7(th) and +9(th) complex harmonics. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Status of holographic interferometry at University of Michigan

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vest, Charles

1987-01-01

Reflection holograms were taken of a jet of air injected traverse to a subsonic stream. The technique of reflection holograms allowed maximum viewing angle and minimum distance to the jet. Holographic interferometry is being used to measure the temperature distribution in a growing crystal. Computations of the temperatures are being made. A phase shift interferometer was used to study flows with very weak changes in refractive index, of the order of 1 shift. Tomographic techniques are being developed for strong refractive cases.

Digital signal processing for velocity measurements in dynamical material's behaviour studies.

PubMed

Devlaminck, Julien; Luc, Jérôme; Chanal, Pierre-Yves

2014-03-01

In this work, we describe different configurations of optical fiber interferometers (types Michelson and Mach-Zehnder) used to measure velocities during dynamical material's behaviour studies. We detail the algorithms of processing developed and optimized to improve the performance of these interferometers especially in terms of time and frequency resolutions. Three methods of analysis of interferometric signals were studied. For Michelson interferometers, the time-frequency analysis of signals by Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT) is compared to a time-frequency analysis by Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT). The results have shown that the CWT was more suitable than the STFT for signals with low signal-to-noise, and low velocity and high acceleration areas. For Mach-Zehnder interferometers, the measurement is carried out by analyzing the phase shift between three interferometric signals (Triature processing). These three methods of digital signal processing were evaluated, their measurement uncertainties estimated, and their restrictions or operational limitations specified from experimental results performed on a pulsed power machine.

Gas Laser Interferometer in the Electric Conversion Laboratory

NASA Image and Video Library

1966-10-21

Richard Lancashire operates a gas laser interferometer in the Electric Conversion Laboratory at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center. Lewis was in the midst of a long-term effort to develop methods of delivering electrical power to spacecraft using nuclear, solar, or electrochemical technologies. Lancashire was measuring the thermionic diode’s plasma particle density. The thermionic diodes were being studied for possible use in radioisotope thermoelectric generators for use in space. Microwave interferometry was one method of measuring transient plasmas. The interferometer measured the difference between the frequencies of two laser beams, one of which passed through the diode. The electron density was measured by revealing the phase shift of the transmitted microwave beam brought about by a change in the plasma refraction. Microwave interferometry, however, offers poor spatial resolution and has limited range of applicability.

The Design and Implementation of the Wide-Angle Michelson Interferometer to Observe Thermospheric Winds.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ward, William Edmund

The design and implementation of a Wide-Angle Michelson interferometer (WAMI) as a high spectral resolution device for measuring Doppler shifts and temperatures in the thermosphere is discussed in detail. A general theoretical framework is developed to describe the behavior of interferometers and is applied to the WAMI. Notions concerning the optical coupling of various surfaces within an interferometer are developed and used to investigate the effects of misalignments in the WAMI optics. In addition, these notions in combination with ideas on the polarization behavior of interferometers are used to suggest how complex multisurfaced interferometers might be developed, what features affect their behavior most strongly, and how this behavior might be controlled. Those aspects of the Michelson interferometer important to its use as a high resolution spectral device are outlined and expressions relating the physical features of the interferometer and the spectral features of the radiation passing through the instrument, to the form of the observed interference pattern are derived. The sensitivity of the WAMI to misalignments in its optical components is explored, and quantitative estimations of the effects of these misalignments made. A working WAMI with cube corners instead of plane mirrors was constructed and is described. The theoretical notions outlined above are applied to this instrument and found to account for most of its features. A general digital procedure is developed for the analysis of the observed interference fringes which permits an estimation of the amplitude, visibility and phase of the fringes. This instrument was taken to Bird, northern Manitoba as part of the ground based support for the Auroral Rocket and Image Excitation Study (ARIES) rocket campaign. Doppler shifts and linewidth variations in O(^1 D) and O(^1S) emissions in the aurora were observed during several nights and constitute the first synoptic wind measurements taken with a WAMI. The results from an eight hour period of O(^1 D) observations are analysed and found to be similar to those obtained with Fabry-Perot interferometers. Higher temporal resolution data than any previously published were obtained, and suggest the presence of previously undetected small scale structures in the wind and temperature data. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).

A compact semiconductor digital interferometer and its applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Britsky, Oleksander I.; Gorbov, Ivan V.; Petrov, Viacheslav V.; Balagura, Iryna V.

2015-05-01

The possibility of using semiconductor laser interferometers to measure displacements at the nanometer scale was demonstrated. The creation principles of miniature digital Michelson interferometers based on semiconductor lasers were proposed. The advanced processing algorithm for the interferometer quadrature signals was designed. It enabled to reduce restrictions on speed of measured movements. A miniature semiconductor digital Michelson interferometer was developed. Designing of the precision temperature stability system for miniature low-cost semiconductor laser with 0.01ºС accuracy enabled to use it for creation of compact interferometer rather than a helium-neon one. Proper firmware and software was designed for the interferometer signals real-time processing and conversion in to respective shifts. In the result the relative displacement between 0-500 mm was measured with a resolution of better than 1 nm. Advantages and disadvantages of practical use of the compact semiconductor digital interferometer in seismometers for the measurement of shifts were shown.

Virtual pyramid wavefront sensor for phase unwrapping.

PubMed

Akondi, Vyas; Vohnsen, Brian; Marcos, Susana

2016-10-10

Noise affects wavefront reconstruction from wrapped phase data. A novel method of phase unwrapping is proposed with the help of a virtual pyramid wavefront sensor. The method was tested on noisy wrapped phase images obtained experimentally with a digital phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer. The virtuality of the pyramid wavefront sensor allows easy tuning of the pyramid apex angle and modulation amplitude. It is shown that an optimal modulation amplitude obtained by monitoring the Strehl ratio helps in achieving better accuracy. Through simulation studies and iterative estimation, it is shown that the virtual pyramid wavefront sensor is robust to random noise.

Electro-optic modulation of a laser at microwave frequencies for interferometric purposes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Specht, Paul E.; Jilek, Brook A.

2017-02-01

A multi-point microwave interferometer (MPMI) concept was previously proposed by the authors for spatially-resolved, non-invasive tracking of a shock, reaction, or detonation front in energetic media [P. Specht et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1793, 160010 (2017).]. The advantage of the MPMI concept over current microwave interferometry techniques is its detection of Doppler shifted microwave signals through electro-optic (EO) modulation of a laser. Since EO modulation preserves spatial variations in the Doppler shift, collecting the EO modulated laser light into a fiber array for recording with an optical heterodyne interferometer yields spatially-resolved velocity information. This work demonstrates the underlying physical principle of the MPMI diagnostic: the monitoring of a microwave signal with nanosecond temporal resolution using an optical heterodyne interferometer. For this purpose, the MPMI concept was simplified to a single-point construction using two tunable 1550 nm lasers and a 35.2 GHz microwave source. A (110) ZnTe crystal imparted the microwave frequency onto a laser, which was combined with a reference laser for determination of the microwave frequency in an optical heterodyne interferometer. A single, characteristic frequency associated with the microwave source was identified in all experiments, providing a means to monitor a microwave signal on nanosecond time scales. Lastly, areas for improving the frequency resolution of this technique are discussed, focusing on increasing the phase-modulated signal strength.

Electro-optic modulation of a laser at microwave frequencies for interferometric purposes.

PubMed

Specht, Paul E; Jilek, Brook A

2017-02-01

A multi-point microwave interferometer (MPMI) concept was previously proposed by the authors for spatially-resolved, non-invasive tracking of a shock, reaction, or detonation front in energetic media [P. Specht et al., AIP Conf. Proc. 1793, 160010 (2017).]. The advantage of the MPMI concept over current microwave interferometry techniques is its detection of Doppler shifted microwave signals through electro-optic (EO) modulation of a laser. Since EO modulation preserves spatial variations in the Doppler shift, collecting the EO modulated laser light into a fiber array for recording with an optical heterodyne interferometer yields spatially-resolved velocity information. This work demonstrates the underlying physical principle of the MPMI diagnostic: the monitoring of a microwave signal with nanosecond temporal resolution using an optical heterodyne interferometer. For this purpose, the MPMI concept was simplified to a single-point construction using two tunable 1550 nm lasers and a 35.2 GHz microwave source. A (110) ZnTe crystal imparted the microwave frequency onto a laser, which was combined with a reference laser for determination of the microwave frequency in an optical heterodyne interferometer. A single, characteristic frequency associated with the microwave source was identified in all experiments, providing a means to monitor a microwave signal on nanosecond time scales. Lastly, areas for improving the frequency resolution of this technique are discussed, focusing on increasing the phase-modulated signal strength.

Investigation on a fiber optic accelerometer based on FBG-FP interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Chongyu; Luo, Hong; Xiong, Shuidong; Li, Haitao

2014-12-01

A fiber optic accelerometer based on fiber Bragg grating Fabry-Perot (FBG-FP) interferometer is presented. The sensor is a FBG-FP cavity which is formed with two weak fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in a single-mode fiber. The reflectivity of the two FBGs is 9.42% and 7.74% respectively, and the fiber between them is 10 meters long. An optical demodulation system was set up to analyze the reflected light of FBG-FP cavity. Acceleration signals of different frequencies and intensities were demodulated correctly and stably by the system. Based on analyzing the optical spectrum of weak FBG based FBG-FP cavity, we got the equivalent length of FBG-FP cavity. We used a path-matching Michelson interferometer (MI) to demodulate the acceleration signal. The visibility of the interference fringe we got was 41%~42% while the theory limit was 50%. This indicated that the difference of interferometer's two arms and the equivalent length of FBG-FP cavity were matched well. Phase generated carrier (PGC) technology was used to eliminate phase fading caused by random phase shift and Faraday rotation mirrors (FRMs) were used to eliminate polarization-induced phase fading. The accelerometer used a compliant cylinder design and its' sensitivity and frequency response were analyzed and simulated based on elastic mechanics. Experiment result showed that the accelerometer had a flat frequency response over the frequency range of 31-630Hz. The sensitivity was about 31dB (0dB=1rad/g) with fluctuation less than 1.5dB.

Reply to ‘Comment on Relativistic theory of the falling cube gravimeter’

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashby, Neil

2018-04-01

The comment (Křen and Pálinkás 2017 Metrologia 55 314-5) claims that the paper Relativistic theory of the falling cube gravimeter (Ashby 2017 Metrologia 55 1-10) is incorrect. The authors of this comment assert that optical paths in the two interferometer arms of an absolute gravimeter shift only the absolute phase difference between interferometer arms and therefore cannot affect the measured value of g, and that the only needed relativistic correction is the commonly applied ‘speed of light correction’. Neither claim stands up to scrutiny. Work of the U.S. government, not subject to copyright.

Performance of a compact, hybrid optical evanescent-wave sensor for chemical and biological applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helmers, H.; Greco, Pierre; Benech, Pierre; Rustad, Rolf; Kherrat, Rochdi; Bouvier, Gérard

1996-02-01

We describe a hybrid evanescent-wave sensor component that we fabricated by using an integrated optical interferometer with a specially adapted photodetector array. The design of the interferometer is based on the use of tapered waveguides to obtain two intersecting collimated beams. Phase shifts can be measured with an angular precision of better than 10-3 rad, which corresponds to a superstrate index change inferior of 10-6 with our structure. The interest in the device as a chemical sensor is experimentally demonstrated. The same optical component could be used in a variety of other sensor applications, e.g., biological and immunological sensors.

Aspheric figure generation using feedback from an infrared phase-shifting interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stahl, H. P.; Ketelsen, D.

An infrared phase-shifting interferometric system has been integrated with a novel optical figure generator at the University of Arizona Optical Sciences Center. This unique generator facility can produce generalized axially symmetric surface figures in a timely and cost-effective manner. The success of this facility depends on both its ability to efficiently remove material while forming the surface figure, and its ability to monitor the surface figure during the generation process to provide feedback to the optician. The facility has been used on several occasions to custom-generate off-axis parabolic segments. Figures to within 0.30 microns rms of the desired figure have been obtained. This paper discusses the usefulness of the infrared phase-shifting interferometric system for providing figure correcting feedback to the optician during the generation of the off-axis parabolic segments, and how it is affected by the surface roughness produced by each generator tool.

Phase retrieval from the phase-shift moiré fringe patterns in simultaneous dual-wavelength interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Jinlong; Gao, Zhishan; Bie, Shuyou; Dou, Yimeng; Ni, Ruihu; Yuan, Qun

2018-02-01

Simultaneous dual-wavelength interferometry (SDWI) could extend the measured range of each single-wavelength interferometry. The moiré fringe generated in SDWI indirectly represents the information of the measured long synthetic-wavelength ({λ }{{S}}) phase, thus the phase demodulation is rather arduous. To address this issue, we present a method to convert the moiré fringe pattern into a synthetic-wavelength interferogram (moiré to synthetic-wavelength, MTS). After the square of the moiré fringe pattern in the MTS method, the additive moiré pattern is turned into a multiplicative one. And the synthetic-wavelength interferogram could be obtained by a low-pass filtering in spectrum of the multiplicative moiré fringe pattern. Therefore, when the dual-wavelength interferometer is implemented with the π/2 phase shift at {λ }{{S}}, a sequence of synthetic-wavelength phase-shift interferograms with π/2 phase shift could be obtained after the MTS method processing on the captured moiré fringe patterns. And then the synthetic-wavelength phase could be retrieved by the conventional phase-shift algorithm. Compared with other methods in SDWI, the proposed MTS approach could reduce the restriction of the phase shift and frame numbers for the adoption of the conventional phase-shift algorithm. Following, numerical simulations are executed to evaluate the performance of the MTS method in processing time, frames of interferograms and the phase shift error compensation. And the necessary linear carrier for MTS method is less than 0.11 times of the traditional dual-wavelength spatial-domain Fourier transform method. Finally, the deviations for MTS method in experiment are 0.97% for a step with the height of 7.8 μm and 1.11% for a Fresnel lens with the step height of 6.2328 μm.

An Externally Dispersed Interferometer for Sensitive Doppler Extrasolar Planet Searches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Jian; Erskine, David J.; Rushford, Mike

2002-09-01

A new kind of instrument for sensitive Doppler extrasolar planet searches, called an externally dispersed interferometer, is described in this paper. It is a combination of an optical Michelson-type interferometer and an intermediate-resolution grating spectrometer. The interferometer measures Doppler radial velocity (RV) variations of starlight through the phase shifts of moiré fringes, created by multiplication of the interferometer fringes with stellar absorption lines. The intermediate-resolution spectrograph disperses the moiré fringes into thousands of parallel-wavelength channels. This increases the instrument bandwidth and fringe visibility by preventing fringe cross-talk between neighboring spectral lines. This results in a net increase in the signal-to-noise ratio over an interferometer used alone with broadband light. Compared to current echelle spectrometers for extrasolar planet searches, this instrument offers two unique instrument properties: a simple, stable, well-defined sinusoidal instrument response function (point-spread function) and magnification of Doppler motion through moiré fringe techniques. Since instrument noise is chiefly limited by the ability to characterize the instrument response, this new technique provides unprecedented low instrumental noise in an economical compact apparatus, enabling higher precision for Doppler RV measurements. In practice, the moiré magnification can be 5-10 times depending on the interferometer comb angle. This instrument has better sensitivity for smaller Doppler shifts than echelle spectrometers. The instrument can be designed with much lower spectral resolving power without losing Doppler sensitivity and optimized for higher throughput than echelle spectrometers to allow a potential survey for planets around fainter stars than current magnitude limits. Lab-based experiments with a prototype instrument with a spectral resolution of R~20,000 demonstrated ~0.7 m s-1 precision for short-term RV measurements. A fiber-fed version of the prototype with R~5600 was tested with starlight at the Lick 1 m telescope and demonstrated ~7 m s-1 RV precision at 340 Å bandwidth. The increased velocity noise is attributed to the lower spectral resolution, lower fringe visibility, and uncontrolled instrument environment.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fang, Dongfan, E-mail: fangdongfan1208@126.com; Sun, Qizhi; Zhao, Xiaoming

A 633 nm laser interferometer has been designed based on a novel concept, which, without the acousto-optic modulator or the demodulator circuit, adopts the fibers to connect all elements except photodetectors and oscilloscope in this system to make it more compact, portable, and efficient. The noteworthy feature is to mathematically compare the two divided interference signals, which have the same phase-shift caused by the electron density but possess the different initial phase and low angular frequencies. It is possible to read the plasma density directly on the oscilloscope by our original mathematic demodulation method without a camera. Based on themore » Abel inversion algorithm, the radial electron density profiles versus time can be obtained by using the multi-chord system. The designed measurable phase shift ranges from 0 to 2π rad corresponding to the maximum line integral of electron density less than 3.5 × 10{sup 17} cm{sup −2}, and the phase accuracy is about 0.017 rad corresponding to the line integral of electron density accuracy of 1 × 10{sup 15} cm{sup −2}. After the construction of eight-chord interferometer, it will provide the detailed time resolved information of the spatial distribution of the electron density in the field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma target produced by the “Yingguang-1” programmed-discharge device, which is being constructed in the Key Laboratory of Pulsed Power, China Academy of Engineering Physics.« less

Multimode excitation-induced phase shifts in intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric fiber sensor spectra.

PubMed

Ma, Cheng; Wang, Anbo

2010-09-01

We report the modal analysis of optical fiber single-mode-multimode-single-mode intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer sensors. The multimode nature of the Fabry-Perot cavity gives rise to an additional phase term in the spectrogram due to intermodal dispersion-induced wavefront distortion, which could significantly affect the cavity length demodulation accuracy. By using an exact model to analyze the modal behavior, this phase term is explained by employing a rotating vector approach. Comparison of the theoretical analysis with experimental results is presented.

Interferometer for measuring the dynamic surface topography of a human tear film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Primeau, Brian C.; Greivenkamp, John E.

2012-03-01

The anterior refracting surface of the eye is the thin tear film that forms on the surface of the cornea. Following a blink, the tear film quickly smoothes and starts to become irregular after 10 seconds. This irregularity can affect comfort and vision quality. An in vivo method of characterizing dynamic tear films has been designed based upon a near-infrared phase-shifting interferometer. This interferometer continuously measures light reflected from the tear film, allowing sub-micron analysis of the dynamic surface topography. Movies showing the tear film behavior can be generated along with quantitative metrics describing changes in the tear film surface. This tear film measurement allows analysis beyond capabilities of typical fluorescein visual inspection or corneal topography and provides better sensitivity and resolution than shearing interferometry methods. The interferometer design is capable of identifying features in the tear film much less than a micron in height with a spatial resolution of about ten microns over a 6 mm diameter. This paper presents the design of the tear film interferometer along with the considerations that must be taken when designing an interferometer for on-eye diagnostics. Discussions include eye movement, design of null optics for a range of ocular geometries, and laser emission limits for on-eye interferometry.

Non-Doppler shift related experimental shock wave measurements using velocity interferometer systems for any reflector.

PubMed

Forsman, A C; Kyrala, G A

2001-05-01

Velocity interferometer system for any reflectors (VISARs), are becoming increasingly popular in the measurement of shock waves in solids and liquids. VISAR techniques are used in measurements of transit time, speed of shock waves in flight in transparent media [L. C. Chhabildas and J. L. Wise, in Proceedings of the 4th APS Topical Conference on Shock Waves in Condensed Matter, Spokane, Washington, 1985, edited by Y. M. Gupta (Plenum, New York, 1986); P. M. Celliers et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 73, 1320 (1998)], and in measurements of particle velocity. However, in cases where shock compression or release may change the index of refraction n+ik of the material being studied, the VISAR technique must be applied with care. Changes in n and k introduce phase shifts into the VISAR results that are not associated with changes in velocity. This paper presents a derivation of the theoretical output of a line VISAR that includes the effects of changing n and k and an experimental observation of a non-Doppler shift related effect.

Digital phase demodulation for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Y.; Strum, R.; Stiles, D.

In this paper, we describe a digital phase demodulation scheme for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors by employing a simple generation of phase-shifted signals at the interrogation interferometer. The scheme allows a real-time calibration process and offers capability of measuring large variations (up to the coherence of the light source) at the bandwidth that is only limited by the data acquisition system. Finally, the proposed phase demodulation method is analytically derived and its validity and performance are experimentally verified using fiber-optic Fabry–Perot sensors for measurement of strains and vibrations.

Digital phase demodulation for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors

DOE PAGES

Liu, Y.; Strum, R.; Stiles, D.; ...

2017-11-20

In this paper, we describe a digital phase demodulation scheme for low-coherence interferometry-based fiber-optic sensors by employing a simple generation of phase-shifted signals at the interrogation interferometer. The scheme allows a real-time calibration process and offers capability of measuring large variations (up to the coherence of the light source) at the bandwidth that is only limited by the data acquisition system. Finally, the proposed phase demodulation method is analytically derived and its validity and performance are experimentally verified using fiber-optic Fabry–Perot sensors for measurement of strains and vibrations.

Long-range effect of a Zeeman field on the electric current through the helical metal-superconductor interface in an Andreev interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mal'shukov, A. G.

2018-02-01

It is shown that the spin-orbit and Zeeman interactions result in phase shifts of Andreev-reflected holes propagating at the surface of a topological insulator, or in Rashba spin-orbit-coupled two-dimensional normal metals, which are in contact with an s -wave superconductor. Due to interference of holes reflected through different paths of the Andreev interferometer the electric current through external contacts varies depending on the strength and direction of the Zeeman field. It also depends on mutual orientations of Zeeman fields in different shoulders of the interferometer. Such a nonlocal effect is a result of the long-range coherency caused by the superconducting proximity effect. This current has been calculated within the semiclassical theory for Green's functions in the diffusive regime, by assuming a strong disorder due to elastic scattering of electrons.

Compact and lightweight support platform with electromagnetic disturbance elimination for interferometer on reversed field pinch Keda Torus eXperiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Wenzhe; Yuan, Peng; Zheng, Jian; Ding, Weixing; Li, Hong; Lan, Tao; Liu, Adi; Liu, Wandong; Xie, Jinlin

2016-11-01

A compact and lightweight support platform has been used as a holder for the interferometer system on the Keda Torus eXperiment (KTX), which is a reversed field pinch device. The vibration caused by the interaction between the time-varying magnetic field and the induced current driven in the metal optical components has been measured and, following comparison with the mechanical vibration of the KTX device and the refraction effect of the ambient turbulent air flow, has been identified as the primary vibration source in this case. To eliminate this electromagnetic disturbance, nonmetallic epoxy resin has been selected as the material for the support platform and the commercially available metal optical mounts are replaced. Following these optimization steps and mechanical reinforcements, the stability of the interferometer platform has improved significantly. The phase shift caused by the vibration has been reduced to the level of background noise.

Particle tracking and extended object imaging by interferometric super resolution microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gdor, Itay; Yoo, Seunghwan; Wang, Xiaolei; Daddysman, Matthew; Wilton, Rosemarie; Ferrier, Nicola; Hereld, Mark; Cossairt, Oliver (Ollie); Katsaggelos, Aggelos; Scherer, Norbert F.

2018-02-01

An interferometric fluorescent microscope and a novel theoretic image reconstruction approach were developed and used to obtain super-resolution images of live biological samples and to enable dynamic real time tracking. The tracking utilizes the information stored in the interference pattern of both the illuminating incoherent light and the emitted light. By periodically shifting the interferometer phase and a phase retrieval algorithm we obtain information that allow localization with sub-2 nm axial resolution at 5 Hz.

Measurement of steep aspheric surfaces using improved two-wavelength phase-shifting interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Liqiong; Wang, Shaopu; Hu, Yao; Hao, Qun

2017-10-01

Optical components with aspheric surfaces can improve the imaging quality of optical systems, and also provide extra advantages such as lighter weight, smaller volume and simper structure. In order to satisfy these performance requirements, the surface error of aspheric surfaces, especially high departure aspheric surfaces must be measured accurately and conveniently. The major obstacle of traditional null-interferometry for aspheric surface under test is that specific and complex null optics need to be designed to fully compensate for the normal aberration of the aspheric surface under test. However, non-null interferometry partially compensating for the aspheric normal aberration can test aspheric surfaces without specific null optics. In this work, a novel non-null test approach of measuring the deviation between aspheric surfaces and the best reference sphere by using improved two-wavelength phase shifting interferometer is described. With the help of the calibration based on reverse iteration optimization, we can effectively remove the retrace error and thus improve the accuracy. Simulation results demonstrate that this method can measure the aspheric surface with the departure of over tens of microns from the best reference sphere, which introduces approximately 500λ of wavefront aberration at the detector.

Application of an optical interferometer for measuring the surface contour of micro-components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, S. H.; Tay, C. J.

2006-04-01

The application of an optical interferometric system using a Mireau objective to measure the surface profile of micro-components is described. The proposed system produces a uniform monochromatic illumination over the test area and introduces an interference fringe pattern localized near the test surface. Both the interference fringes and the 2D image of the test surface can be focused by an infinity microscope system consisting of a Mireau objective and a tube lens. A piezoelectric transducer (PZT) attached to the Mireau objective can move precisely along the optical axis of the objective. This enables the implementation of phase-shifting interferometry without changing the focus of a CCD sensor as the combination of the Mireau objective and the tube lens provides a depth of focus which is deep in comparison to the phase-shifting step. Experimental results from surface profilometry of the protrusion/undercut of a polished fibre within an optical connector and of the curved surface of a micromirror demonstrate that features in the order of nanometres are measurable. Measurements on standard blocks also show that the accuracy of the proposed system is comparable to an existing commercial white-light interferometer and a stylus profilometer.

Liquid crystal devices especially for use in liquid crystal point diffraction interferometer systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marshall, Kenneth L. (Inventor)

2009-01-01

Liquid crystal point diffraction interferometer (LCPDI) systems that can provide real-time, phase-shifting interferograms that are useful in the characterization of static optical properties (wavefront aberrations, lensing, or wedge) in optical elements or dynamic, time-resolved events (temperature fluctuations and gradients, motion) in physical systems use improved LCPDI cells that employ a "structured" substrate or substrates in which the structural features are produced by thin film deposition or photo resist processing to provide a diffractive element that is an integral part of the cell substrate(s). The LC material used in the device may be doped with a "contrast-compensated" mixture of positive and negative dichroic dyes.

Liquid crystal devices especially for use in liquid crystal point diffraction interferometer systems

DOEpatents

Marshall, Kenneth L [Rochester, NY

2009-02-17

Liquid crystal point diffraction interferometer (LCPDI) systems that can provide real-time, phase-shifting interferograms that are useful in the characterization of static optical properties (wavefront aberrations, lensing, or wedge) in optical elements or dynamic, time-resolved events (temperature fluctuations and gradients, motion) in physical systems use improved LCPDI cells that employ a "structured" substrate or substrates in which the structural features are produced by thin film deposition or photo resist processing to provide a diffractive element that is an integral part of the cell substrate(s). The LC material used in the device may be doped with a "contrast-compensated" mixture of positive and negative dichroic dyes.

Design of interferometer system on Versatile Experiment Spherical Torus (VEST) at Seoul National University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, D. H.; An, Y. H.; Chung, K. J.; Hwang, Y. S.

2012-01-01

A 94 GHz heterodyne interferometer system was designed to measure the plasma density of VEST (Versatile Experiment Spherical Torus), which was recently built at Seoul National University. Two 94 GHz Gunn oscillators with a frequency difference of 40 MHz were used in the microwave electronics part of a heterodyne interferometer system. A compact beam focusing system utilizing a pair of plano-convex lenses and a concave mirror was designed to maximize the effective beam reception and spatial resolution. Beam path analysis based on Gaussian optics was used in the design of the beam focusing system. The design of the beam focusing system and the beam path analysis were verified with a couple of experiments that were done within an experimental framework that considered the real dimensions of a vacuum vessel. Optimum distances between the optical components and the beam radii along the beam path obtained from the experiments were in good agreement with the beam path analysis using the Gaussian optics. Both experimentation and numerical calculations confirmed that the designed beam focusing system maximized the spatial resolution of the measurement; moreover, the beam waist was located at the center of the plasma to generate a phase shift more effectively in plasmas. The interferometer system presented in this paper is expected to be used in the measurements of line integrated plasma densities during the start-up phase of VEST.

Laser Metrology Heterodyne Phase-Locked Loop

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loya, Frank; Halverson, Peter

2009-01-01

A method reduces sensitivity to noise in a signal from a laser heterodyne interferometer. The phase-locked loop (PLL) removes glitches that occur in a zero-crossing detector s output [that can happen if the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the heterodyne signal is low] by the use of an internal oscillator that produces a square-wave signal at a frequency that is inherently close to the heterodyne frequency. It also contains phase-locking circuits that lock the phase of the oscillator to the output of the zero-crossing detector. Because the PLL output is an oscillator signal, it is glitch-free. This enables the ability to make accurate phase measurements in spite of low SNR, creates an immunity to phase error caused by shifts in the heterodyne frequency (i.e. if the target moves causing Doppler shift), and maintains a valid phase even when the signal drops out for brief periods of time, such as when the laser is blocked by a stray object.

Image grating metrology using phase-stepping interferometry in scanning beam interference lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Minkang; Zhou, Changhe; Wei, Chunlong; Jia, Wei; Lu, Yancong; Xiang, Changcheng; Xiang, XianSong

2016-10-01

Large-sized gratings are essential optical elements in laser fusion and space astronomy facilities. Scanning beam interference lithography is an effective method to fabricate large-sized gratings. To minimize the nonlinear phase written into the photo-resist, the image grating must be measured to adjust the left and right beams to interfere at their waists. In this paper, we propose a new method to conduct wavefront metrology based on phase-stepping interferometry. Firstly, a transmission grating is used to combine the two beams to form an interferogram which is recorded by a charge coupled device(CCD). Phase steps are introduced by moving the grating with a linear stage monitored by a laser interferometer. A series of interferograms are recorded as the displacement is measured by the laser interferometer. Secondly, to eliminate the tilt and piston error during the phase stepping, the iterative least square phase shift method is implemented to obtain the wrapped phase. Thirdly, we use the discrete cosine transform least square method to unwrap the phase map. Experiment results indicate that the measured wavefront has a nonlinear phase around 0.05 λ@404.7nm. Finally, as the image grating is acquired, we simulate the print-error written into the photo-resist.

Experimental implementation of phase locking in a nonlinear interferometer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Hailong; Jing, Jietai, E-mail: jtjing@phy.ecnu.edu.cn; Marino, A. M.

2015-09-21

Based upon two cascade four-wave mixing processes in two identical hot rubidium vapor cells, a nonlinear interferometer has been experimentally realized [Jing et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 011110 (2011); Hudelist et al., Nat. Commun. 5, 3049 (2014)]. It has a higher degree of phase sensitivity than a traditional linear interferometer and has many potential applications in quantum metrology. Phase locking of the nonlinear interferometer is needed before it can find its way into applications. In this letter, we investigate the experimental implementation of phase locking of the relative phase between the three beams at different frequencies involved in suchmore » a nonlinear interferometer. We have utilized two different methods, namely, beat note locking and coherent modulation locking. We find that coherent modulation locking can achieve much better phase stability than beat note locking in our system. Our results pave the way for real applications of a nonlinear interferometer in precision measurement and quantum manipulation, for example, phase control in phase-sensitive N-wave mixing process, N-port nonlinear interferometer and quantum-enhanced real-time phase tracking.« less

Software system design for the non-null digital Moiré interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Meng; Hao, Qun; Hu, Yao; Wang, Shaopu; Li, Tengfei; Li, Lin

2016-11-01

Aspheric optical components are an indispensable part of modern optics systems. With the development of aspheric optical elements fabrication technique, high-precision figure error test method of aspheric surfaces is a quite urgent issue now. We proposed a digital Moiré interferometer technique (DMIT) based on partial compensation principle for aspheric and freeform surface measurement. Different from traditional interferometer, DMIT consists of a real and a virtual interferometer. The virtual interferometer is simulated with Zemax software to perform phase-shifting and alignment. We can get the results by a series of calculation with the real interferogram and virtual interferograms generated by computer. DMIT requires a specific, reliable software system to ensure its normal work. Image acquisition and data processing are two important parts in this system. And it is also a challenge to realize the connection between the real and virtual interferometer. In this paper, we present a software system design for DMIT with friendly user interface and robust data processing features, enabling us to acquire the figure error of the measured asphere. We choose Visual C++ as the software development platform and control the ideal interferometer by using hybrid programming with Zemax. After image acquisition and data transmission, the system calls image processing algorithms written with Matlab to calculate the figure error of the measured asphere. We test the software system experimentally. In the experiment, we realize the measurement of an aspheric surface and prove the feasibility of the software system.

Ultra-wideband design of waveguide magneto-optical isolator operating in 1.31mum and 1.55mum band.

PubMed

Shoji, Yuya; Mizumoto, Tetsuya

2007-01-22

The design of an ultra-wideband waveguide magneto-optical isolator is described. The isolator is based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer employing nonreciprocal phase shift. The ultra-wideband design is realized by adjusting the wavelength dependence of reciprocal phase difference to compensate for that of nonreciprocal phase difference in the backward direction. We obtained the ultra-wideband design that provides isolation > 35dB from 1.25mum to >1.65mum. This is the proposal of magneto-optical isolator that operates both in 1.31mum band and 1.55mum band.

A novel vibration sensor based on phase grating interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qian; Liu, Xiaojun; Zhao, Li; Lei, Zili; Lu, Zhen; Guo, Lei

2017-05-01

Vibration sensors with high accuracy and reliability are needed urgently for vibration measurement. In this paper a vibration sensor with nanometer resolution is developed. This sensor is based on the principle of phase grating interference for displacement measurement and spatial polarization phase-shift interference technology, and photoelectric counting and A/D signal subdivision are adopted for vibration data output. A vibration measurement system consisting of vibration actuator and displacement adjusting device has been designed to test the vibration sensor. The high resolution and high reliability of the sensor are verified through a series of comparison experiments with Doppler interferometer.

White light phase shifting interferometry and color fringe analysis for the detection of contaminants in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubey, Vishesh; Singh, Veena; Ahmad, Azeem; Singh, Gyanendra; Mehta, Dalip Singh

2016-03-01

We report white light phase shifting interferometry in conjunction with color fringe analysis for the detection of contaminants in water such as Escherichia coli (E.coli), Campylobacter coli and Bacillus cereus. The experimental setup is based on a common path interferometer using Mirau interferometric objective lens. White light interferograms are recorded using a 3-chip color CCD camera based on prism technology. The 3-chip color camera have lesser color cross talk and better spatial resolution in comparison to single chip CCD camera. A piezo-electric transducer (PZT) phase shifter is fixed with the Mirau objective and they are attached with a conventional microscope. Five phase shifted white light interferograms are recorded by the 3-chip color CCD camera and each phase shifted interferogram is decomposed into the red, green and blue constituent colors, thus making three sets of five phase shifted intererograms for three different colors from a single set of white light interferogram. This makes the system less time consuming and have lesser effect due to surrounding environment. Initially 3D phase maps of the bacteria are reconstructed for red, green and blue wavelengths from these interferograms using MATLAB, from these phase maps we determines the refractive index (RI) of the bacteria. Experimental results of 3D shape measurement and RI at multiple wavelengths will be presented. These results might find applications for detection of contaminants in water without using any chemical processing and fluorescent dyes.

Automatic Alignment of Displacement-Measuring Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Halverson, Peter; Regehr, Martin; Spero, Robert; Alvarez-Salazar, Oscar; Loya, Frank; Logan, Jennifer

2006-01-01

A control system strives to maintain the correct alignment of a laser beam in an interferometer dedicated to measuring the displacement or distance between two fiducial corner-cube reflectors. The correct alignment of the laser beam is parallel to the line between the corner points of the corner-cube reflectors: Any deviation from parallelism changes the length of the optical path between the reflectors, thereby introducing a displacement or distance measurement error. On the basis of the geometrical optics of corner-cube reflectors, the length of the optical path can be shown to be L = L(sub 0)cos theta, where L(sub 0) is the distance between the corner points and theta is the misalignment angle. Therefore, the measurement error is given by DeltaL = L(sub 0)(cos theta - 1). In the usual case in which the misalignment is small, this error can be approximated as DeltaL approximately equal to -L(sub 0)theta sup 2/2. The control system (see figure) is implemented partly in hardware and partly in software. The control system includes three piezoelectric actuators for rapid, fine adjustment of the direction of the laser beam. The voltages applied to the piezoelectric actuators include components designed to scan the beam in a circular pattern so that the beam traces out a narrow cone (60 microradians wide in the initial application) about the direction in which it is nominally aimed. This scan is performed at a frequency (2.5 Hz in the initial application) well below the resonance frequency of any vibration of the interferometer. The laser beam makes a round trip to both corner-cube reflectors and then interferes with the launched beam. The interference is detected on a photodiode. The length of the optical path is measured by a heterodyne technique: A 100- kHz frequency shift between the launched beam and a reference beam imposes, on the detected signal, an interferometric phase shift proportional to the length of the optical path. A phase meter comprising analog filters and specialized digital circuitry converts the phase shift to an indication of displacement, generating a digital signal proportional to the path length.

Practical Quantum Private Database Queries Based on Passive Round-Robin Differential Phase-shift Quantum Key Distribution.

PubMed

Li, Jian; Yang, Yu-Guang; Chen, Xiu-Bo; Zhou, Yi-Hua; Shi, Wei-Min

2016-08-19

A novel quantum private database query protocol is proposed, based on passive round-robin differential phase-shift quantum key distribution. Compared with previous quantum private database query protocols, the present protocol has the following unique merits: (i) the user Alice can obtain one and only one key bit so that both the efficiency and security of the present protocol can be ensured, and (ii) it does not require to change the length difference of the two arms in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and just chooses two pulses passively to interfere with so that it is much simpler and more practical. The present protocol is also proved to be secure in terms of the user security and database security.

Modulation of Polarization for Phase Extraction in Holographic Interferometry with Two References

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodriguez-Zurita, G.; Vázquez-Castillo, J.-F.; Toto-Arellano, N.-I.; Meneses-Fabian, C.; Jiménez-Montero, L.-E.

2010-04-01

Heterodyne holographic interferometry allows high accuracy for phase-difference extraction between two wave fronts, especially when they are previously recorded in the same recording medium. In part, this is because the wave fronts can be affected by the recording process in a very similar way. The double reconstruction of a double-exposure hologram with two independent references results in a two-beam holographic interferometer with an arm conveying a wave modulated in frequency when using heterodyne techniques. The heterodyne frequency has been usually introduced with a plane mirror attached to a piezo-electric stack driven with a suitable variable power supply. For holographic interferometry, however, less attention has been devoted to alternative phase retrieval variants as, for example, phase-shifting with modulation of polarization or Fourier methods. In this work, we propose and demonstrate the basic capabilities of modulation of polarization performing as a phase-shifting technique for holographic interferometry with two references in a phase-stepping scheme. Experimental results are provided.

A Transportable Gravity Gradiometer Based on Atom Interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yu, Nan; Thompson, Robert J.; Kellogg, James R.; Aveline, David C.; Maleki, Lute; Kohel, James M.

2010-01-01

A transportable atom interferometer-based gravity gradiometer has been developed at JPL to carry out measurements of Earth's gravity field at ever finer spatial resolutions, and to facilitate high-resolution monitoring of temporal variations in the gravity field from ground- and flight-based platforms. Existing satellite-based gravity missions such as CHAMP and GRACE measure the gravity field via precise monitoring of the motion of the satellites; i.e. the satellites themselves function as test masses. JPL's quantum gravity gradiometer employs a quantum phase measurement technique, similar to that employed in atomic clocks, made possible by recent advances in laser cooling and manipulation of atoms. This measurement technique is based on atomwave interferometry, and individual laser-cooled atoms are used as drag-free test masses. The quantum gravity gradiometer employs two identical atom interferometers as precision accelerometers to measure the difference in gravitational acceleration between two points (Figure 1). By using the same lasers for the manipulation of atoms in both interferometers, the accelerometers have a common reference frame and non-inertial accelerations are effectively rejected as common mode noise in the differential measurement of the gravity gradient. As a result, the dual atom interferometer-based gravity gradiometer allows gravity measurements on a moving platform, while achieving the same long-term stability of the best atomic clocks. In the laboratory-based prototype (Figure 2), the cesium atoms used in each atom interferometer are initially collected and cooled in two separate magneto-optic traps (MOTs). Each MOT, consisting of three orthogonal pairs of counter-propagating laser beams centered on a quadrupole magnetic field, collects up to 10(exp 9) atoms. These atoms are then launched vertically as in an atom fountain by switching off the magnetic field and introducing a slight frequency shift between pairs of lasers to create a moving rest frame for the trapped atoms. While still in this moving-frame molasses, the laser frequencies are further detuned from the atomic resonance (while maintaining this relative frequency shift) to cool the atom cloud's temperature to 2 K or below, corresponding to an rms velocity of less than 2 cm/s. After launch, the cold atoms undergo further state and velocity selection to prepare for atom interferometry. The atom interferometers are then realized using laser-induced stimulated Raman transitions to perform the necessary manipulations of each atom, and the resulting interferometer phase is measured using laser-induced fluorescence for state-normalized detection. More than 20 laser beams with independent controls of frequency, phase, and intensity are required for this measurement sequence. This instrument can facilitate the study of Earth's gravitational field from surface and air vehicles, as well as from space by allowing gravity mapping from a low-cost, single spacecraft mission. In addition, the operation of atom interferometer-based instruments in space offers greater sensitivity than is possible in terrestrial instruments due to the much longer interrogation times available in the microgravity environment. A space-based quantum gravity gradiometer has the potential to achieve sensitivities similar to the GRACE mission at long spatial wavelengths, and will also have resolution similar to GOCE for measurement at shorter length scales.

A Theoretical Study and Numerical Simulation of a Quasi-Distributed Sensor Based on the Low-Finesse Fabry-Perot Interferometer: Frequency-Division Multiplexing

PubMed Central

Guillen Bonilla, José Trinidad; Guillen Bonilla, Alex; Rodríguez Betancourtt, Verónica M.; Guillen Bonilla, Héctor; Casillas Zamora, Antonio

2017-01-01

The application of the sensor optical fibers in the areas of scientific instrumentation and industrial instrumentation is very attractive due to its numerous advantages. In the industry of civil engineering for example, quasi-distributed sensors made with optical fiber are used for reliable strain and temperature measurements. Here, a quasi-distributed sensor in the frequency domain is discussed. The sensor consists of a series of low-finesse Fabry-Perot interferometers where each Fabry-Perot interferometer acts as a local sensor. Fabry-Perot interferometers are formed by pairs of identical low reflective Bragg gratings imprinted in a single mode fiber. All interferometer sensors have different cavity length, provoking frequency-domain multiplexing. The optical signal represents the superposition of all interference patterns which can be decomposed using the Fourier transform. The frequency spectrum was analyzed and sensor’s properties were defined. Following that, a quasi-distributed sensor was numerically simulated. Our sensor simulation considers sensor properties, signal processing, noise system, and instrumentation. The numerical results show the behavior of resolution vs. signal-to-noise ratio. From our results, the Fabry-Perot sensor has high resolution and low resolution. Both resolutions are conceivable because the Fourier Domain Phase Analysis (FDPA) algorithm elaborates two evaluations of Bragg wavelength shift. PMID:28420083

A Theoretical Study and Numerical Simulation of a Quasi-Distributed Sensor Based on the Low-Finesse Fabry-Perot Interferometer: Frequency-Division Multiplexing.

PubMed

Guillen Bonilla, José Trinidad; Guillen Bonilla, Alex; Rodríguez Betancourtt, Verónica M; Guillen Bonilla, Héctor; Casillas Zamora, Antonio

2017-04-14

The application of the sensor optical fibers in the areas of scientific instrumentation and industrial instrumentation is very attractive due to its numerous advantages. In the industry of civil engineering for example, quasi-distributed sensors made with optical fiber are used for reliable strain and temperature measurements. Here, a quasi-distributed sensor in the frequency domain is discussed. The sensor consists of a series of low-finesse Fabry-Perot interferometers where each Fabry-Perot interferometer acts as a local sensor. Fabry-Perot interferometers are formed by pairs of identical low reflective Bragg gratings imprinted in a single mode fiber. All interferometer sensors have different cavity length, provoking frequency-domain multiplexing. The optical signal represents the superposition of all interference patterns which can be decomposed using the Fourier transform. The frequency spectrum was analyzed and sensor's properties were defined. Following that, a quasi-distributed sensor was numerically simulated. Our sensor simulation considers sensor properties, signal processing, noise system, and instrumentation. The numerical results show the behavior of resolution vs. signal-to-noise ratio. From our results, the Fabry-Perot sensor has high resolution and low resolution. Both resolutions are conceivable because the Fourier Domain Phase Analysis (FDPA) algorithm elaborates two evaluations of Bragg wavelength shift.

Phase extraction based on iterative algorithm using five-frame crossed fringes in phase measuring deflectometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Chengying; Li, Dahai; Kewei, E.; Li, Mengyang; Chen, Pengyu; Wang, Ruiyang; Xiong, Zhao

2018-06-01

In phase measuring deflectometry, two orthogonal sinusoidal fringe patterns are separately projected on the test surface and the distorted fringes reflected by the surface are recorded, each with a sequential phase shift. Then the two components of the local surface gradients are obtained by triangulation. It usually involves some complicated and time-consuming procedures (fringe projection in the orthogonal directions). In addition, the digital light devices (e.g. LCD screen and CCD camera) are not error free. There are quantization errors for each pixel of both LCD and CCD. Therefore, to avoid the complex process and improve the reliability of the phase distribution, a phase extraction algorithm with five-frame crossed fringes is presented in this paper. It is based on a least-squares iterative process. Using the proposed algorithm, phase distributions and phase shift amounts in two orthogonal directions can be simultaneously and successfully determined through an iterative procedure. Both a numerical simulation and a preliminary experiment are conducted to verify the validity and performance of this algorithm. Experimental results obtained by our method are shown, and comparisons between our experimental results and those obtained by the traditional 16-step phase-shifting algorithm and between our experimental results and those measured by the Fizeau interferometer are made.

Phase-front measurements of an injection-locked AlGaAs laser-diode array

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cornwell, Donald M., Jr.; Rall, Jonathan A. R.; Abshire, James B.

1989-01-01

The phase-front quality of the primary spatial lobe emitted from an injection-locked gain-guided AlGaAs laser-diode array is measured by using an equal-path, phase-shifting Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Root-mean-square phase errors of 0.037 + or - 0.003 wave are measured for the single spatial lobe, which contained 240-mW cw output power in a single longitudinal mode. This phase-front quality corresponds to a Strehl ratio of S = 0.947, which results in a 0.23-dB power loss from the single lobe's ideal diffraction-limited power. These values are comparable with those measured for single-stripe index-guided AlGaAs lasers.

Proposal of one-shot-type spectroscopic-tomography for non-invasive medical-measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Shun; Fujiwara, Masaru; Abeygunawardhana, Pradeep K. W.; Suzuki, Satoru; Nishiyama, Akira; Ishimaru, Ichiro

2013-06-01

The one-shot-type spectroscopic-tomography is proposed to develop the medical-patient-condition monitoring systems. The optical-setup is configured with the relative-inclined phase-shifter for improving the time resolution and the phase-shift array for improving visibility. We obtained the line-spectroscopic imaging and could recognize the Hg bright-line-spectrum that is a component of the light-source. The realization of the optical stethoscope for early diagnosis of cancer can be expected by obtaining the 2-dimensional spectroscopic distribution with rotating interferometer.

Carrier-separating demodulation of phase shifting self-mixing interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Yufeng; Wang, Ming; Xia, Wei

2017-03-01

A carrier separating method associated with noise-elimination had been introduced into a sinusoidal phase-shifting self-mixing interferometer. The conventional sinusoidal phase shifting self-mixing interferometry was developed into a more competitive instrument with high computing efficiency and nanometer accuracy of λ / 100 in dynamical vibration measurement. The high slew rate electro-optic modulator induced a sinusoidal phase carrier with ultralow insertion loss in this paper. In order to extract phase-shift quickly and precisely, this paper employed the carrier-separating to directly generate quadrature signals without complicated frequency domain transforms. Moreover, most noises were evaluated and suppressed by a noise-elimination technology synthesizing empirical mode decomposition with wavelet transform. The overall laser system was described and inherent advantages such as high computational efficiency and decreased nonlinear errors of the established system were demonstrated. The experiment implemented on a high precision PZT (positioning accuracy was better than 1 nm) and compared with laser Doppler velocity meter. The good agreement of two instruments shown that the short-term resolution had improved from 10 nm to 1.5 nm in dynamic vibration measurement with reduced time expense. This was useful in precision measurement to improve the SMI with same sampling rate. The proposed signal processing was performed in pure time-domain requiring no preprocessing electronic circuits.

Speckle-free and halo-free low coherent Mach-Zehnder quantitative-phase-imaging module as a replacement of objective lens in conventional inverted microscopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamauchi, Toyohiko; Yamada, Hidenao; Matsui, Hisayuki; Yasuhiko, Osamu; Ueda, Yukio

2018-02-01

We developed a compact Mach-Zehnder interferometer module to be used as a replacement of the objective lens in a conventional inverted microscope (Nikon, TS100-F) in order to make them quantitative phase microscopes. The module has a 90-degree-flipped U-shape; the dimensions of the module are 160 mm by 120 mm by 40 mm and the weight is 380 grams. The Mach-Zehnder interferometer equipped with the separate reference and sample arms was implemented in this U-shaped housing and the path-length difference between the two arms was manually adjustable. The sample under test was put on the stage of the microscope and a sample light went through it. Both arms had identical achromatic lenses for image formation and the lateral positions of them were also manually adjustable. Therefore, temporally and spatially low coherent illumination was applicable because the users were able to balance precisely the path length of the two arms and to overlap the two wavefronts. In the experiment, spectrally filtered LED light for illumination (wavelength = 633 nm and bandwidth = 3 nm) was input to the interferometer module via a 50 micrometer core optical fiber. We have successfully captured full-field interference images by a camera put on the trinocular tube of the microscope and constructed quantitative phase images of the cultured cells by means of the quarter-wavelength phase shifting algorithm. The resultant quantitative phase images were speckle-free and halo-free due to spectrally and spatially low coherent illumination.

Confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer for frequency stabilization of laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, H.-J.; Ruan, P.; Wang, H.-W.; Li, F.

2011-02-01

The frequency shift of laser source of Doppler lidar is required in the range of a few megahertzs. To satisfy this demand, a confocal Fabry-Perot (F-P) interferometer was manufactured as the frequency standard for frequency stabilization. After analyzing and contrasting the center frequency shift of confocal Fabry-Perot interferometers that are made of three different types of material with the change of temperature, the zerodur material was selected to fabricate the interferometer, and the cavity mirrors were optically contacted onto the end of spacer. The confocal Fabry-Perot interferometer was situated within a double-walled chamber, and the change of temperature in the chamber was less than 0.01 K. The experimental results indicate that the free spectral range is 500 MHz, the full-width at half maximum is 3.33 MHz, and the finesse is 150.

Phase conjugate Twyman-Green interferometer for testing spherical surfaces and lenses and for measuring refractive indices of liquids or solid transparent materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Shukla, R. P.; Dokhanian, Mostafa; Venkateswarlu, Putcha; George, M. C.

1990-01-01

The present paper describes an application of a phase conjugate Twyman-Green interferometer using barium titanate as a self-pumping mirror for testing optical components like concave and convex spherical mirrors and lenses. The aberrations introduced by the beam splitter while testing concave or convex spherical mirrors of large aperture are automatically eliminated due to self-focussing property of the phase conjugate mirror. There is no necessity for a good spherical surface as a reference surface unlike in classical Twyman-Green interferometer or Williams interferometer. The phase conjugate Twyman Green interferometer with a divergent illumination can be used as a test plate for checking spherical surfaces. A nondestructive technique for measuring the refractive indices of a Fabry Perot etalon by using a phase conjugate interferometer is also suggested. The interferometer is found to be useful for measuring the refractive indices of liquids and solid transparent materials with an accuracy of the order of + or - 0.0004.

Methods and apparatus for broadband frequency comb stabilization

DOEpatents

Cox, Jonathan A; Kaertner, Franz X

2015-03-17

Feedback loops can be used to shift and stabilize the carrier-envelope phase of a frequency comb from a mode-locked fibers laser or other optical source. Compared to other frequency shifting and stabilization techniques, feedback-based techniques provide a wideband closed-loop servo bandwidth without optical filtering, beam pointing errors, or group velocity dispersion. It also enables phase locking to a stable reference, such as a Ti:Sapphire laser, continuous-wave microwave or optical source, or self-referencing interferometer, e.g., to within 200 mrad rms from DC to 5 MHz. In addition, stabilized frequency combs can be coherently combined with other stable signals, including other stabilized frequency combs, to synthesize optical pulse trains with pulse durations of as little as a single optical cycle. Such a coherent combination can be achieved via orthogonal control, using balanced optical cross-correlation for timing stabilization and balanced homodyne detection for phase stabilization.

Micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Abraham P.; Sommargren, Gary E.; McConaghy, Charles F.

A micromachined vertical actuator utilizing a levitational force, such as in electrostatic comb drives, provides vertical actuation that is relatively linear in actuation for control, and can be readily combined with parallel plate capacitive position sensing for position control. The micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator provides accurate movement in the sub-micron to micron ranges which is desirable in the phase modulation instrument, such as optical phase shifting. For example, compact, inexpensive, and position controllable micromirrors utilizing an electrostatic vertical actuator can replace the large, expensive, and difficult-to-maintain piezoelectric actuators. A thirty pound piezoelectric actuator with corner cube reflectors, as utilized inmore » a phase shifting diffraction interferometer can be replaced with a micromirror and a lens. For any very precise and small amplitudes of motion` micromachined electrostatic actuation may be used because it is the most compact in size, with low power consumption and has more straightforward sensing and control options.« less

Micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, A.P.; Sommargren, G.E.; McConaghy, C.F.

A micromachined vertical actuator utilizing a levitational force, such as in electrostatic comb drives, provides vertical actuation that is relatively linear in actuation for control, and can be readily combined with parallel plate capacitive position sensing for position control. The micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator provides accurate movement in the sub-micron to micron ranges which is desirable in the phase modulation instrument, such as optical phase shifting. For example, compact, inexpensive, and position controllable micromirrors utilizing an electrostatic vertical actuator can replace the large, expensive, and difficult-to-maintain piezoelectric actuators. A thirty pound piezoelectric actuator with corner cube reflectors, as utilized inmore » a phase shifting diffraction interferometer can be replaced with a micromirror and a lens. For any very precise and small amplitudes of motion, micromachined electrostatic actuation may be used because it is the most compact in size, with low power consumption and has more straightforward sensing and control options.« less

Dynamic measurement of the corneal tear film with a Twyman-Green interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micali, Jason D.; Greivenkamp, John E.; Primeau, Brian C.

2014-07-01

An interferometer for measuring dynamic properties of the in vivo tear film on the human cornea has been developed. The system is a near-infrared instantaneous phase-shifting Twyman-Green interferometer. The laser source is a 785 nm solidstate laser; the system has been carefully designed and calibrated to ensure that the system operates at eye safe levels. Measurements are made over a 6 mm diameter on the cornea. Successive frames of interferometric height measurements are combined to produce movies showing both the quantitative and qualitative changes in the topography of the tear film surface and structure. To date, measurement periods of up to 120 seconds at 28.6 frames per second have been obtained. Several human subjects have been examined using this system, demonstrating a surface height resolution of 25 nm and spatial resolution of 6 μm. Examples of features that have been observed in these in preliminary studies of the tear film include: post-blink disruption, evolution, and stabilization of the tear film; tear film artifacts generated by blinking; tear film evaporation and break-up; and the propagation of foreign objects in the tear film. This paper discusses the interferometer design and presents results from in vivo measurements.

Dynamic measurement of the corneal tear film with a Twyman-Green interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micali, Jason D.; Greivenkamp, John E.; Primeau, Brian C.

2015-05-01

An interferometer for measuring dynamic properties of the in vivo tear film on the human cornea has been developed. The system is a near-infrared instantaneous phase-shifting Twyman-Green interferometer. The laser source is a 785 nm solid-state laser, and the system has been carefully designed and calibrated to ensure that the system operates at eye-safe levels. Measurements are made over a 6 mm diameter on the cornea. Successive frames of interferometric height measurements are combined to produce movies showing both the quantitative and qualitative changes in the topography of the tear film surface and structure. To date, measurement periods of up to 120 s at 28.6 frames per second have been obtained. Several human subjects have been examined using this system, demonstrating a surface height resolution of 25 nm and spatial resolution of 6 μm. Examples of features that have been observed in these preliminary studies of the tear film include postblink disruption, evolution, and stabilization of the tear film; tear film artifacts generated by blinking; tear film evaporation and breakup; and the propagation of foreign objects in the tear film. This paper discusses the interferometer design and presents results from in vivo measurements.

Sensitivity of a fibre scattered-light interferometer to external phase perturbations in an optical fibre

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alekseev, A E; Potapov, V T; Gorshkov, B G

2015-10-31

Sensitivity of a fibre scattered-light interferometer to external phase perturbations is studied for the first time. An expression is derived for an average power of a useful signal at the interferometer output under external harmonic perturbations in a signal fibre of the interferometer. It is shown that the maximum sensitivity of the scattered-light interferometer depends on the dispersion of the interferogram intensity. An average signal-to-noise ratio is determined theoretically and experimentally at the output of the interferometer at different amplitudes of external perturbations. Using the measured dependences of the signal-to-noise ratio, the threshold sensitivity of the fibre scattered-light interferometer tomore » external phase perturbations is found. The results obtained can be used to optimise characteristics of optical time-domain reflectometers and to design individual phase-sensitive fibre-optic sensors. (laser applications and other topics in quantum electronics)« less

Practical Quantum Private Database Queries Based on Passive Round-Robin Differential Phase-shift Quantum Key Distribution

PubMed Central

Li, Jian; Yang, Yu-Guang; Chen, Xiu-Bo; Zhou, Yi-Hua; Shi, Wei-Min

2016-01-01

A novel quantum private database query protocol is proposed, based on passive round-robin differential phase-shift quantum key distribution. Compared with previous quantum private database query protocols, the present protocol has the following unique merits: (i) the user Alice can obtain one and only one key bit so that both the efficiency and security of the present protocol can be ensured, and (ii) it does not require to change the length difference of the two arms in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and just chooses two pulses passively to interfere with so that it is much simpler and more practical. The present protocol is also proved to be secure in terms of the user security and database security. PMID:27539654

Interferometers Sharpen Measurements for Better Telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2013-01-01

Over the last decade, there have been a number of innovations that have made possible the largest and most powerful telescope of its time: the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Scheduled to launch in 2018, JWST will provide insight into what the oldest, most distant galaxies look like. When engineers build a first-of-its-kind instrument like the JWST, they often must make new tools to construct the new technology. Throughout the decades of planning, development, and construction of the JWST, NASA has worked with numerous partners to spur innovations that have enabled the telescope s creation. Though the JWST s launch date is still several years away, a number of these innovations are spinning off to provide benefits here on Earth. One of these spinoffs has emerged from the extensive testing the JWST must undergo to ensure it will function in the extreme environment of space. In order to test the JWST instruments in conditions that closely resemble those in space, NASA uses a cryogenic vacuum chamber. By dropping the temperatures down to -400 F and employing powerful pumps to remove air from the chamber, engineers can test whether the JWST instruments will function once the spacecraft leaves Earth. Traditionally, a phase-shifting interferometer is used to measure optics like the JWST s mirrors to verify their precise shape, down to tens of nanometers, during manufacturing. However, the large size of the mirrors, coupled with vibration induced by the cryo-pumps, prohibits the use of traditional phase-shifting interferometers to measure the mirrors within the chamber environment. Because the JWST will be located in deep space, far from any possible manned service mission, it was essential to find a robust solution to guarantee the performance of the mirrors.

Highly sensitive force sensor based on balloon-like interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Yue; Xiao, Shiying; Xu, Yao; Shen, Ya; Jiang, Youchao; Jin, Wenxing; Yang, Yuguang; Jian, Shuisheng

2018-07-01

An all-fiber highly sensitive force sensor based on modal interferometer has been presented and demonstrated. The single-mode fiber (SMF) with coating stripped is designed into a balloon-like shape to form a modal interferometer. Due to the bent SMF, the interference occurs between the core mode and cladding modes. With variation of the force applied to the balloon-like interferometer, the bending diameter changes, which caused the wavelength shift of the modal interference. Thus the measurement of the force variation can be achieved by monitoring the wavelength shift. The performances of the interferometer with different bending diameter are experimentally investigated, and the maximum force sensitivity of 24.9 pm/ μ N can be achieved with the bending diameter 14 mm ranging from 0 μ N to 1464.12 μ N. Furthermore, the proposed fiber sensor exhibits the advantages of easy fabrication and low cost, making it a suitable candidate in the optical fiber sensing field.

Establishing security of quantum key distribution without monitoring disturbance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koashi, Masato

2015-10-01

In conventional quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols, the information leak to an eavesdropper is estimated through the basic principle of quantum mechanics dictated in the original version of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. The amount of leaked information on a shared sifted key is bounded from above essentially by using information-disturbance trade-off relations, based on the amount of signal disturbance measured via randomly sampled or inserted probe signals. Here we discuss an entirely different avenue toward the private communication, which does not rely on the information disturbance trade-off relations and hence does not require a monitoring of signal disturbance. The independence of the amount of privacy amplification from that of disturbance tends to give it a high tolerance on the channel noises. The lifting of the burden of precise statistical estimation of disturbance leads to a favorable finite-key-size effect. A protocol based on the novel principle can be implemented by only using photon detectors and classical optics tools: a laser, a phase modulator, and an interferometer. The protocol resembles the differential-phase-shift QKD protocol in that both share a simple binary phase shift keying on a coherent train of weak pulses from a laser. The difference lies in the use of a variable-delay interferometer in the new protocol, which randomly changes the combination of pulse pairs to be superposed. This extra randomness has turned out to be enough to upper-bound the information extracted by the eavesdropper, regardless of how they have disturbed the quantum signal.

Partially reduced graphene oxide based FRET on fiber-optic interferometer for biochemical detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, B. C.; Wu, Y.; Yu, C. B.; He, J. R.; Rao, Y. J.; Gong, Y.; Fu, F.; Chen, Y. F.; Li, Y. R.

2016-03-01

Fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) with naturally exceptional selectivity is a powerful technique and widely used in chemical and biomedical analysis. However, it is still challenging for conventional FRET to perform as a high sensitivity compact sensor. Here we propose a novel ‘FRET on Fiber’ concept, in which a partially reduced graphene oxide (prGO) film is deposited on a fiber-optic modal interferometer, acting as both the fluorescent quencher for the FRET and the sensitive cladding for optical phase measurement due to refractive index changes in biochemical detection. The target analytes induced fluorescence recovery with good selectivity and optical phase shift with high sensitivity are measured simultaneously. The functionalized prGO film coated on the fiber-optic interferometer shows high sensitivities for the detections of metal ion, dopamine and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), with detection limits of 1.2 nM, 1.3 μM and 1 pM, respectively. Such a prGO based ‘FRET on fiber’ configuration, bridging the FRET and the fiber-optic sensing technology, may serve as a platform for the realization of series of integrated ‘FRET on Fiber’ sensors for on-line environmental, chemical, and biomedical detection, with excellent compactness, high sensitivity, good selectivity and fast response

Partially reduced graphene oxide based FRET on fiber-optic interferometer for biochemical detection

PubMed Central

Yao, B. C.; Wu, Y.; Yu, C. B.; He, J. R.; Rao, Y. J.; Gong, Y.; Fu, F.; Chen, Y. F.; Li, Y. R.

2016-01-01

Fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) with naturally exceptional selectivity is a powerful technique and widely used in chemical and biomedical analysis. However, it is still challenging for conventional FRET to perform as a high sensitivity compact sensor. Here we propose a novel ‘FRET on Fiber’ concept, in which a partially reduced graphene oxide (prGO) film is deposited on a fiber-optic modal interferometer, acting as both the fluorescent quencher for the FRET and the sensitive cladding for optical phase measurement due to refractive index changes in biochemical detection. The target analytes induced fluorescence recovery with good selectivity and optical phase shift with high sensitivity are measured simultaneously. The functionalized prGO film coated on the fiber-optic interferometer shows high sensitivities for the detections of metal ion, dopamine and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), with detection limits of 1.2 nM, 1.3 μM and 1 pM, respectively. Such a prGO based ‘FRET on fiber’ configuration, bridging the FRET and the fiber-optic sensing technology, may serve as a platform for the realization of series of integrated ‘FRET on Fiber’ sensors for on-line environmental, chemical, and biomedical detection, with excellent compactness, high sensitivity, good selectivity and fast response PMID:27010752

Hyper-Ramsey spectroscopy of optical clock transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yudin, V. I.; Taichenachev, A. V.; Oates, C. W.

2010-07-15

We present nonstandard optical Ramsey schemes that use pulses individually tailored in duration, phase, and frequency to cancel spurious frequency shifts related to the excitation itself. In particular, the field shifts and their uncertainties can be radically suppressed (by two to four orders of magnitude) in comparison with the usual Ramsey method (using two equal pulses) as well as with single-pulse Rabi spectroscopy. Atom interferometers and optical clocks based on two-photon transitions, heavily forbidden transitions, or magnetically induced spectroscopy could significantly benefit from this method. In the latter case, these frequency shifts can be suppressed considerably below a fractional levelmore » of 10{sup -17}. Moreover, our approach opens the door for high-precision optical clocks based on direct frequency comb spectroscopy.« less

Development of a novel polymeric fiber-optic magnetostrictive metal detector.

PubMed

Hua, Wei-Shu; Hooks, Joshua Rosenberg; Wu, Wen-Jong; Wang, Wei-Chih

2010-01-01

The purpose this paper is the development a novel polymeric fiber-optic magnetostrictive metal detector, using a fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer and polymeric magnetostrictive material. Metal detection is based on the strain-induced optical path length change steming from the ferromagnetic material introduced in the magnetic field. Varied optical phase shifts resulted largely from different metal objects. In this paper, the preliminary results on the different metal material detection will be discussed.

Effect of asymmetrical transfer coefficients of a non-polarizing beam splitter on the nonlinear error of the polarization interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Chen-Guang; Tan, Jiu-Bin; Liu, Tao

2010-09-01

The mechanism of a non-polarizing beam splitter (NPBS) with asymmetrical transfer coefficients causing the rotation of polarization direction is explained in principle, and the measurement nonlinear error caused by NPBS is analyzed based on Jones matrix theory. Theoretical calculations show that the nonlinear error changes periodically, and the error period and peak values increase with the deviation between transmissivities of p-polarization and s-polarization states. When the transmissivity of p-polarization is 53% and that of s-polarization is 48%, the maximum error reaches 2.7 nm. The imperfection of NPBS is one of the main error sources in simultaneous phase-shifting polarization interferometer, and its influence can not be neglected in the nanoscale ultra-precision measurement.

LISA Mission Concept Study, Laser Interferometer Space Antenna for the Detection and Observation of Gravitational Waves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Folkner, W. M.; Bender, P. L.; Stebbins, R. T.

1998-01-01

This document presents the results of a design feasibility study for LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna). The goal of LISA is to detect and study low-frequency astrophysical gravitational radiation from strongly relativistic regions. Astrophysical sources potentially visible to LISA include extra-galactic massive black hole binaries at cosmological distances, binary systems composed of a compact star and a massive black hole, galactic neutron star-black hole binaries, and background radiation from the Big Bang. The LISA mission will comprise three spacecraft located five million kilometers apart forming an equilateral triangle in an Earth-trailing orbit. Fluctuations in separation between shielded test masses located within each spacecraft will be determined by optical interferometry which determines the phase shift of laser light transmitted between the test masses.

SU(1,1)-type light-atom-correlated interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Hongmei; Li, Dong; Yuan, Chun-Hua; Chen, L. Q.; Ou, Z. Y.; Zhang, Weiping

2015-08-01

The quantum correlation of light and atomic collective excitation can be used to compose an SU(1,1)-type hybrid light-atom interferometer, where one arm in the optical SU(1,1) interferometer is replaced by the atomic collective excitation. The phase-sensing probes include not only the photon field but also the atomic collective excitation inside the interferometer. For a coherent squeezed state as the phase-sensing field, the phase sensitivity can approach the Heisenberg limit under the optimal conditions. We also study the effects of the loss of light field and the dephasing of atomic excitation on the phase sensitivity. This kind of active SU(1,1) interferometer can also be realized in other systems, such as circuit quantum electrodynamics in microwave systems, which provides a different method for basic measurement using the hybrid interferometers.

Improving the phase response of an atom interferometer by means of temporal pulse shaping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Bess; Mielec, Nicolas; Savoie, Denis; Altorio, Matteo; Landragin, Arnaud; Geiger, Remi

2018-02-01

We study theoretically and experimentally the influence of temporally shaping the light pulses in an atom interferometer, with a focus on the phase response of the interferometer. We show that smooth light pulse shapes allow rejecting high frequency phase fluctuations (above the Rabi frequency) and thus relax the requirements on the phase noise or frequency noise of the interrogation lasers driving the interferometer. The light pulse shape is also shown to modify the scale factor of the interferometer, which has to be taken into account in the evaluation of its accuracy budget. We discuss the trade-offs to operate when choosing a particular pulse shape, by taking into account phase noise rejection, velocity selectivity, and applicability to large momentum transfer atom interferometry.

Observation of quasiperiodic dynamics in a one-dimensional quantum walk of single photons in space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xue, Peng; Qin, Hao; Tang, Bao; Sanders, Barry C.

2014-05-01

We realize the quasi-periodic dynamics of a quantum walker over 2.5 quasi-periods by realizing the walker as a single photon passing through a quantum-walk optical-interferometer network. We introduce fully controllable polarization-independent phase shifters in each optical path to realize arbitrary site-dependent phase shifts, and employ large clear-aperture beam displacers, while maintaining high-visibility interference, to enable 10 quantum-walk steps to be reached. By varying the half-wave-plate setting, we control the quantum-coin bias thereby observing a transition from quasi-periodic dynamics to ballistic diffusion.

Optically guided atom interferometer tuned to magic wavelength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akatsuka, Tomoya; Takahashi, Tadahiro; Katori, Hidetoshi

2017-11-01

We demonstrate an atom interferometer operating on the 1S0-3P0 clock transition of 87Sr atoms in a “magic” optical guide, where the light shift perturbations of the guiding potential are canceled. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer is set horizontally to map the acceleration introduced by the focused optical guide. This magic guide interferometer on the clock transition is applicable to atomic elements where magic wavelengths can be found. Possible applications of the magic guide interferometer, including a hollow-core fiber interferometer and gradiometer, are discussed.

Fixed Delay Interferometry for Doppler Extrasolar Planet Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ge, Jian

2002-06-01

We present a new technique based on fixed delay interferometry for high-throughput, high-precision, and multiobject Doppler radial velocity (RV) surveys for extrasolar planets. The Doppler measurements are conducted by monitoring the stellar fringe phase shifts of the interferometer instead of absorption-line centroid shifts as in state-of-the-art echelle spectroscopy. High Doppler sensitivity is achieved through optimizing the optical delay in the interferometer and reducing photon noise by measuring multiple fringes over a broad band. This broadband operation is performed by coupling the interferometer with a low- to medium-resolution postdisperser. The resulting fringing spectra over the bandpass are recorded on a two-dimensional detector, with fringes sampled in the slit spatial direction and the spectrum sampled in the dispersion direction. The resulting total Doppler sensitivity is, in theory, independent of the dispersing power of the postdisperser, which allows for the development of new-generation RV machines with much reduced size, high stability, and low cost compared to echelles. This technique has the potential to improve RV survey efficiency by 2-3 orders of magnitude over the cross-dispersed echelle spectroscopy approach, which would allow a full-sky RV survey of hundreds of thousands of stars for planets, brown dwarfs, and stellar companions once the instrument is operated as a multiobject instrument and is optimized for high throughput. The simple interferometer response potentially allows this technique to be operated at other wavelengths independent of popular iodine reference sources, being actively used in most of the current echelles for Doppler planet searches, to search for planets around early-type stars, white dwarfs, and M, L, and T dwarfs for the first time. The high throughput of this instrument could also allow investigation of extragalactic objects for RV variations at high precision.

Scheme for efficient extraction of low-frequency signal beyond the quantum limit by frequency-shift detection.

PubMed

Yang, R G; Zhang, J; Zhai, Z H; Zhai, S Q; Liu, K; Gao, J R

2015-08-10

Low-frequency (Hz~kHz) squeezing is very important in many schemes of quantum precision measurement. But it is more difficult than that at megahertz-frequency because of the introduction of laser low-frequency technical noise. In this paper, we propose a scheme to obtain a low-frequency signal beyond the quantum limit from the frequency comb in a non-degenerate frequency and degenerate polarization optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) operating below threshold with type I phase matching by frequency-shift detection. Low-frequency squeezing immune to laser technical noise is obtained by a detection system with a local beam of two-frequency intense laser. Furthermore, the low-frequency squeezing can be used for phase measurement in Mach-Zehnder interferometer, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be enhanced greatly.

Experimental investigation of polarization insensitivity and cascadability with semiconductor optical amplifier-based differential phase-shift keyed wavelength converter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Yaya; Wu, Chongqing; Liu, Bo; Ullah, Rahat; Tian, Feng

2017-12-01

We experimentally investigate the polarization insensitivity and cascadability of an all-optical wavelength converter for differential phase-shift keyed (DPSK) signals for the first time. The proposed wavelength converter is composed of a one-bit delay interferometer demodulation stage followed by a single semiconductor optical amplifier. The impact of input DPSK signal polarization fluctuation on receiver sensitivity for the converted signal is carried out. It is found that this scheme is almost insensitive to the state of polarization of the input DPSK signal. Furthermore, the cascadability of the converter is demonstrated in a two-path recirculating loop. Error-free transmission is achieved with 20 stage cascaded wavelength conversions over 2800 km, where the power penalty is <3.4 dB at bit error rate of 10-9.

Interferometer for the measurement of plasma density

DOEpatents

Jacobson, Abram R.

1980-01-01

An interferometer which combines the advantages of a coupled cavity interferometer requiring alignment of only one light beam, and a quadrature interferometer which has the ability to track multi-fringe phase excursions unambiguously. The device utilizes a Bragg cell for generating a signal which is electronically analyzed to unambiguously determine phase modulation which is proportional to the path integral of the plasma density.

Phase Shift Interferometer and Growth Set Up to Step Pattern Formation During Growth From Solutions. Influence of the Oscillatory solution Flow on Stability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chernov, Alex A.; Booth, N. A.; Vekilov, P. G.; Murray, B. T.; McFadden, G. B.

2000-01-01

We have assembled an experimental setup based on Michelson interferometry with the growing crystal surface as one of the reflective surfaces. The crystallization part of the device allows optical monitoring of a face of a crystal growing at temperature stable within 0.05 C in a flow of solution of controlled direction and speed. The reference arm of the interferometer contains a liquid crystal element that allows controlled shifts of the phase of the interferograms. We employ an image-processing algorithm, which combines five images with a pi/2 phase difference between each pair of images. The images are transferred to a computer by a camera capable of capturing 60 frames per second. The device allows data collection on surface morphology and kinetics during the face layers growth over a relatively large area (approximately 4 sq. mm) in situ and in real time during growth. The estimated depth resolution of the phase shifting interferometry is approximately 50 Angstroms. The data will be analyzed in order to reveal and monitor step bunching during the growth process. The crystal chosen as a model for study in this work is KH2PO4 (KDP). This optically non-linear material is widely used in frequency doubling applications. There have been a number of studies of the kinetics of KDP crystallization that can serve as a benchmark for our investigations. However, so far, systematic quantitative characteristics of step interaction and bunching are missing. We intend to present our first quantitative results on the onset, initial stages and development of instabilities in moving step trains on vicinal crystal surfaces at varying supersaturation, flow rate, and flow direction. Behavior of a vicinal face growing from solution flowing normal to the steps and periodically changing its direction in time was considered theoretically. It was found that this oscillating flow reduces both stabilization and destabilization effects resulted from the unidirectional solution flow directed up the step stream and down the step stream. This reduction of stabilization and destabilization comes from effective mixing which entangles the phase shifts between the spatially periodic interface perturbation and the concentration wave induced by this perturbation. Numerical results and simplified mixing criterion will be discussed.

Optimal phase measurements with bright- and vacuum-seeded SU(1,1) interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, Brian E.; Schmittberger, Bonnie L.; Gupta, Prasoon; Jones, Kevin M.; Lett, Paul D.

2017-06-01

The SU(1,1) interferometer can be thought of as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with its linear beam splitters replaced with parametric nonlinear optical processes. We consider the cases of bright- and vacuum-seeded SU(1,1) interferometers using intensity or homodyne detectors. A simplified truncated scheme with only one nonlinear interaction is introduced, which not only beats conventional intensity detection with a bright seed, but can saturate the phase-sensitivity bound set by the quantum Fisher information. We also show that the truncated scheme achieves a sub-shot-noise phase sensitivity in the vacuum-seeded case, despite the phase-sensing optical beams having no well-defined phase.

Design and Operation of a Two-Color Interferometer to Measure Plasma and Neutral Gas Densities in a Laser-Triggered Spark Gap Switch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Camacho, J. F.; Ruden, E. L.; Domonkos, M. T.; Schmitt-Sody, A.; Lucero, A.

2014-10-01

A Mach-Zehnder imaging interferometer, operating with 1064-nm and 532-nm wavelength beams from a short-pulse laser and a frequency-doubled branch, respectively, has been designed and built to simultaneously measure plasma free electron and neutral gas densities profiles within a laser-triggered spark gap switch with a 5-mm gap. The switch will be triggered by focusing a separate 532-nm or 1064-nm laser pulse along the gap's axis to trigger low-jitter breakdown. Illuminating the gap transverse to this axis, the diagnostic will generate interferograms for each wavelength, which will then be numerically converted to phase-shift maps. These will be used to calculate independent line-integrated free electron and neutral density profiles by exploiting their different frequency dispersion curves. The density profiles themselves, then, will be calculated by Abel inversion. Details of the interferometer's design will be presented along with density data obtained using a variety of fill gasses at various pressures. Other switch parameters will be varied as well in order to characterize more fully the performance of the switch.

Multi-chord fiber-coupled interferometer with a long coherence length laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merritt, Elizabeth C.; Lynn, Alan G.; Gilmore, Mark A.; Hsu, Scott C.

2012-03-01

This paper describes a 561 nm laser heterodyne interferometer that provides time-resolved measurements of line-integrated plasma electron density within the range of 1015-1018 cm-2. Such plasmas are produced by railguns on the plasma liner experiment, which aims to produce μs-, cm-, and Mbar-scale plasmas through the merging of 30 plasma jets in a spherically convergent geometry. A long coherence length, 320 mW laser allows for a strong, sub-fringe phase-shift signal without the need for closely matched probe and reference path lengths. Thus, only one reference path is required for all eight probe paths, and an individual probe chord can be altered without altering the reference or other probe path lengths. Fiber-optic decoupling of the probe chord optics on the vacuum chamber from the rest of the system allows the probe paths to be easily altered to focus on different spatial regions of the plasma. We demonstrate that sub-fringe resolution capability allows the interferometer to operate down to line-integrated densities of the order of 5 × 1015 cm-2.

Instrument Reflections and Scene Amplitude Modulation in a Polychromatic Microwave Quadrature Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dobson, Chris C.; Jones, Jonathan E.; Chavers, Greg

2003-01-01

A polychromatic microwave quadrature interferometer has been characterized using several laboratory plasmas. Reflections between the transmitter and the receiver have been observed, and the effects of including reflection terms in the data reduction equation have been examined. An error analysis which includes the reflections, modulation of the scene beam amplitude by the plasma, and simultaneous measurements at two frequencies has been applied to the empirical database, and the results are summarized. For reflection amplitudes around 1096, the reflection terms were found to reduce the calculated error bars for electron density measurements by about a factor of 2. The impact of amplitude modulation is also quantified. In the complete analysis, the mean error bar for high- density measurements is 7.596, and the mean phase shift error for low-density measurements is 1.2". .

Interferometric at-wavelength flare characterization of EUV optical systems

DOEpatents

Naulleau, Patrick P.; Goldberg, Kenneth Alan

2001-01-01

The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer (PS/PDI) provides the high-accuracy wavefront characterization critical to the development of EUV lithography systems. Enhancing the implementation of the PS/PDI can significantly extend its spatial-frequency measurement bandwidth. The enhanced PS/PDI is capable of simultaneously characterizing both wavefront and flare. The enhanced technique employs a hybrid spatial/temporal-domain point diffraction interferometer (referred to as the dual-domain PS/PDI) that is capable of suppressing the scattered-reference-light noise that hinders the conventional PS/PDI. Using the dual-domain technique in combination with a flare-measurement-optimized mask and an iterative calculation process for removing flare contribution caused by higher order grating diffraction terms, the enhanced PS/PDI can be used to simultaneously measure both figure and flare in optical systems.

Large radius of curvature measurement based on the evaluation of interferogram-quality metric in non-null interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Zhongming; Dou, Jiantai; Du, Jinyu; Gao, Zhishan

2018-03-01

Non-null interferometry could use to measure the radius of curvature (ROC), we have presented a virtual quadratic Newton rings phase-shifting moiré-fringes measurement method for large ROC measurement (Yang et al., 2016). In this paper, we propose a large ROC measurement method based on the evaluation of the interferogram-quality metric by the non-null interferometer. With the multi-configuration model of the non-null interferometric system in ZEMAX, the retrace errors and the phase introduced by the test surface are reconstructed. The interferogram-quality metric is obtained by the normalized phase-shifted testing Newton rings with the spherical surface model in the non-null interferometric system. The radius curvature of the test spherical surface can be obtained until the minimum of the interferogram-quality metric is found. Simulations and experimental results are verified the feasibility of our proposed method. For a spherical mirror with a ROC of 41,400 mm, the measurement accuracy is better than 0.13%.

High-speed single-pixel digital holography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

González, Humberto; Martínez-León, Lluís.; Soldevila, Fernando; Araiza-Esquivel, Ma.; Tajahuerce, Enrique; Lancis, Jesús

2017-06-01

The complete phase and amplitude information of biological specimens can be easily determined by phase-shifting digital holography. Spatial light modulators (SLMs) based on liquid crystal technology, with a frame-rate around 60 Hz, have been employed in digital holography. In contrast, digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) can reach frame rates up to 22 kHz. A method proposed by Lee to design computer generated holograms (CGHs) permits the use of such binary amplitude modulators as phase-modulation devices. Single-pixel imaging techniques record images by sampling the object with a sequence of micro-structured light patterns and using a simple photodetector. Our group has reported some approaches combining single-pixel imaging and phase-shifting digital holography. In this communication, we review these techniques and present the possibility of a high-speed single-pixel phase-shifting digital holography system with phase-encoded illumination. This system is based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, with a DMD acting as the modulator for projecting the sampling patterns on the object and also being used for phase-shifting. The proposed sampling functions are phaseencoded Hadamard patterns generated through a Lee hologram approach. The method allows the recording of the complex amplitude distribution of an object at high speed on account of the high frame rates of the DMD. Reconstruction may take just a few seconds. Besides, the optical setup is envisaged as a true adaptive system, which is able to measure the aberration induced by the optical system in the absence of a sample object, and then to compensate the wavefront in the phasemodulation stage.

Modulated Source Interferometry with Combined Amplitude and Frequency Modulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gutierrez, Roman C. (Inventor)

1998-01-01

An improved interferometer is produced by modifying a conventional interferometer to include amplitude and/or frequency modulation of a coherent light source at radio or higher frequencies. The phase of the modulation signal can be detected in an interfering beam from an interferometer and can be used to determine the actual optical phase of the beam. As such, this improvement can be adapted to virtually any two-beam interferometer, including: Michelson, Mach-Zehnder, and Sagnac interferometers. The use of an amplitude modulated coherent tight source results in an interferometer that combines the wide range advantages of coherent interferometry with the precise distance measurement advantages of white light interferometry.

Electronic heterodyne recording of interference patterns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Merat, F. L.; Claspy, P. C.

1979-01-01

An electronic heterodyne technique is being investigated for video (i.e., television rate and format) recording of interference patterns. In the heterodyne technique electro-optic modulation is used to introduce a sinusoidal phase shift between the beams of an interferometer. For phase modulation frequencies between 0.1 and 15 MHz an image dissector camera may be used to scan the resulting temporally modulated interference pattern. Heterodyne detection of the camera output is used to selectively record the interference pattern. An advantage of such synchronous recording is that it permits recording of low-contrast fringes in high ambient light conditions. The application of this technique to the recording of holograms is discussed.

Interferometric imaging of acoustical phenomena using high-speed polarization camera and 4-step parallel phase-shifting technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishikawa, K.; Yatabe, K.; Ikeda, Y.; Oikawa, Y.; Onuma, T.; Niwa, H.; Yoshii, M.

2017-02-01

Imaging of sound aids the understanding of the acoustical phenomena such as propagation, reflection, and diffraction, which is strongly required for various acoustical applications. The imaging of sound is commonly done by using a microphone array, whereas optical methods have recently been interested due to its contactless nature. The optical measurement of sound utilizes the phase modulation of light caused by sound. Since light propagated through a sound field changes its phase as proportional to the sound pressure, optical phase measurement technique can be used for the sound measurement. Several methods including laser Doppler vibrometry and Schlieren method have been proposed for that purpose. However, the sensitivities of the methods become lower as a frequency of sound decreases. In contrast, since the sensitivities of the phase-shifting technique do not depend on the frequencies of sounds, that technique is suitable for the imaging of sounds in the low-frequency range. The principle of imaging of sound using parallel phase-shifting interferometry was reported by the authors (K. Ishikawa et al., Optics Express, 2016). The measurement system consists of a high-speed polarization camera made by Photron Ltd., and a polarization interferometer. This paper reviews the principle briefly and demonstrates the high-speed imaging of acoustical phenomena. The results suggest that the proposed system can be applied to various industrial problems in acoustical engineering.

Recent observations with phase-contrast x-ray computed tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momose, Atsushi; Takeda, Tohoru; Itai, Yuji; Tu, Jinhong; Hirano, Keiichi

1999-09-01

Recent development in phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography using an X-ray interferometer is reported. To observe larger samples than is possible with our previous X-ray interferometer, a large monolithic X-ray interferometer and a separated-type X-ray interferometer were studied. At the present time, 2.5 cm X 1.5 cm interference patterns have been generated with the X-ray interferometers using synchrotron X-rays. The large monolithic X-ray interferometer has produced interference fringes with 80% visibility, and has been used to measure various tissues. To produce images with higher spatial resolution, we fabricated another X-ray interferometer whose wafer was partially thinned by chemical etching. A preliminary test suggested that the spatial resolution has been improved.

Absolute calibration of optical flats

DOEpatents

Sommargren, Gary E.

2005-04-05

The invention uses the phase shifting diffraction interferometer (PSDI) to provide a true point-by-point measurement of absolute flatness over the surface of optical flats. Beams exiting the fiber optics in a PSDI have perfect spherical wavefronts. The measurement beam is reflected from the optical flat and passed through an auxiliary optic to then be combined with the reference beam on a CCD. The combined beams include phase errors due to both the optic under test and the auxiliary optic. Standard phase extraction algorithms are used to calculate this combined phase error. The optical flat is then removed from the system and the measurement fiber is moved to recombine the two beams. The newly combined beams include only the phase errors due to the auxiliary optic. When the second phase measurement is subtracted from the first phase measurement, the absolute phase error of the optical flat is obtained.

Joint estimation of phase and phase diffusion for quantum metrology.

PubMed

Vidrighin, Mihai D; Donati, Gaia; Genoni, Marco G; Jin, Xian-Min; Kolthammer, W Steven; Kim, M S; Datta, Animesh; Barbieri, Marco; Walmsley, Ian A

2014-04-14

Phase estimation, at the heart of many quantum metrology and communication schemes, can be strongly affected by noise, whose amplitude may not be known, or might be subject to drift. Here we investigate the joint estimation of a phase shift and the amplitude of phase diffusion at the quantum limit. For several relevant instances, this multiparameter estimation problem can be effectively reshaped as a two-dimensional Hilbert space model, encompassing the description of an interferometer phase probed with relevant quantum states--split single-photons, coherent states or N00N states. For these cases, we obtain a trade-off bound on the statistical variances for the joint estimation of phase and phase diffusion, as well as optimum measurement schemes. We use this bound to quantify the effectiveness of an actual experimental set-up for joint parameter estimation for polarimetry. We conclude by discussing the form of the trade-off relations for more general states and measurements.

Polarization Dependence Suppression of Optical Fiber Grating Sensor in a π-Shifted Sagnac Loop Interferometer

PubMed Central

Son, Jaebum; Lee, Min-Kyoung; Jeong, Myung Yung; Kim, Chang-Seok

2010-01-01

In the sensing applications of optical fiber grating, it is necessary to reduce the transmission-type polarization dependence to isolate the sensing parameter. It is experimentally shown that the polarization-dependent spectrum of acousto-optic long-period fiber grating sensors can be suppressed in the transmission port of a π-shifted Sagnac loop interferometer. General expressions for the transmittance and reflectance are derived for transmission-type, reflection-type, and partially reflecting/transmitting-type polarization-dependent optical devices. The compensation of polarization dependence through the counter propagation in the Sagnac loop interferometer is quantitatively measured for a commercial in-line polarizer and an acousto-optic long-period fiber grating sensor. PMID:22399884

X-ray phase scanning setup for non-destructive testing using Talbot-Lau interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bachche, S.; Nonoguchi, M.; Kato, K.; Kageyama, M.; Koike, T.; Kuribayashi, M.; Momose, A.

2016-09-01

X-ray grating interferometry has a great potential for X-ray phase imaging over conventional X-ray absorption imaging which does not provide significant contrast for weakly absorbing objects and soft biological tissues. X-ray Talbot and Talbot-Lau interferometers which are composed of transmission gratings and measure the differential X-ray phase shifts have gained popularity because they operate with polychromatic beams. In X-ray radiography, especially for nondestructive testing in industrial applications, the feasibility of continuous sample scanning is not yet completely revealed. A scanning setup is frequently advantageous when compared to a direct 2D static image acquisition in terms of field of view, exposure time, illuminating radiation, etc. This paper demonstrates an efficient scanning setup for grating-based Xray phase imaging using laboratory-based X-ray source. An apparatus consisting of an X-ray source that emits X-rays vertically, optical gratings and a photon-counting detector was used with which continuously moving objects across the field of view as that of conveyor belt system can be imaged. The imaging performance of phase scanner was tested by scanning a long continuous moving sample at a speed of 5 mm/s and absorption, differential-phase and visibility images were generated by processing non-uniform moire movie with our specially designed phase measurement algorithm. A brief discussion on the feasibility of phase scanner with scanning setup approach including X-ray phase imaging performance is reported. The successful results suggest a breakthrough for scanning objects those are moving continuously on conveyor belt system non-destructively using the scheme of X-ray phase imaging.

Measurement of Soret and Fickian diffusion coefficients by orthogonal phase-shifting interferometry and its application to protein aqueous solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torres, Juan F.; Komiya, Atsuki; Henry, Daniel; Maruyama, Shigenao

2013-08-01

We have developed a method to measure thermodiffusion and Fickian diffusion in transparent binary solutions. The measuring instrument consists of two orthogonally aligned phase-shifting interferometers coupled with a single rotating polarizer. This high-resolution interferometer, initially developed to measure isothermal diffusion coefficients in liquid systems [J. F. Torres, A. Komiya, E. Shoji, J. Okajima, and S. Maruyama, Opt. Lasers Eng. 50, 1287 (2012)], was modified to measure transient concentration profiles in binary solutions subject to a linear temperature gradient. A convectionless thermodiffusion field was created in a binary solution sample that is placed inside a Soret cell. This cell consists of a parallelepiped cavity with a horizontal cross-section area of 10 × 20 mm2, a variable height of 1-2 mm, and transparent lateral walls. The small height of the cell reduces the volume of the sample, shortens the measurement time, and increases the hydrodynamic stability of the system. An additional free diffusion experiment with the same optical apparatus provides the so-called contrast factors that relate the unwrapped phase and concentration gradients, i.e., the measurement technique is independent and robust. The Soret coefficient is determined from the concentration and temperature differences between the upper and lower boundaries measured by the interferometer and thermocouples, respectively. The Fickian diffusion coefficient is obtained by fitting a numerical solution to the experimental concentration profile. The method is validated through the measurement of thermodiffusion in the well-known liquid pairs of ethanol-water (ethanol 39.12 wt.%) and isobutylbenzene-dodecane (50.0 wt.%). The obtained coefficients agree with the literature values within 5.0%. Finally, the developed technique is applied to visualize biomolecular thermophoresis. Two protein aqueous solutions at 3 mg/ml were used as samples: aprotinin (6.5 kDa)-water and lysozyme (14.3 kDa)-water. It was found that the former protein molecules are thermophilic and the latter thermophobic. In contrast to previously reported methods, this technique is suitable for both short time and negative Soret coefficient measurements.

Target recognition and phase acquisition by using incoherent digital holographic imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Munseob; Lee, Byung-Tak

2017-05-01

In this study, we proposed the Incoherent Digital Holographic Imaging (IDHI) for recognition and phase information of dedicated target. Although recent development of a number of target recognition techniques such as LIDAR, there have limited success in target discrimination, in part due to low-resolution, low scanning speed, and computation power. In the paper, the proposed system consists of the incoherent light source, such as LED, Michelson interferometer, and digital CCD for acquisition of four phase shifting image. First of all, to compare with relative coherence, we used a source as laser and LED, respectively. Through numerical reconstruction by using the four phase shifting method and Fresnel diffraction method, we recovered the intensity and phase image of USAF resolution target apart from about 1.0m distance. In this experiment, we show 1.2 times improvement in resolution compared to conventional imaging. Finally, to confirm the recognition result of camouflaged targets with the same color from background, we carry out to test holographic imaging in incoherent light. In this result, we showed the possibility of a target detection and recognition that used three dimensional shape and size signatures, numerical distance from phase information of obtained holographic image.

Phase-shift/transmittance measurements in a micro pattern using MPM193EX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nozawa, Hiroto; Ishida, Takayuki; Kato, Satoru; Sato, Osamu; Miyazaki, Koji; Takehisa, Kiwamu; Awamura, Naoki; Takizawa, Hideo; Kusunose, Hal

2009-04-01

A new direct Phase-shift/Transmittance measurement tool "MPM193EX" has been developed to respond to the growing demand for higher precision measurements of finer patterns in ArF Lithography. Specifications of MPM193EX are listed below along with corresponding specifications of the conventional tool MPM193. 1) Phase-shift [3 Sigma]: 0.5 deg. (MPM193) => 0.2 deg. (MPM193EX) 2) Transmittance [3 Sigma]: 0.20 % (MPM193) => 0.04 % (MPM193EX) 3) Minimum measurement pattern width: 7.5 μm (MPM193) => 1.0 μm (MPM193EX) Furthermore, new design optics using an ArF Laser and an objective lens with long working distance allows measurements of masks with pellicles. The new method for improving the measurement repeatability is based on elimination of influence from instantaneous fluctuation in interferometer fringes by scanning two adjacent areas simultaneously. Also, MPM193EX is equipped with high-resolution and stable optics. The newly employed auto-focus system in MPM193EX accurately adjusts, by a new image processing method using high-resolution optics, the focus height that is one of the most important factors for measurements in a micro pattern.

Performance analysis of a full-field and full-range swept-source OCT system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krauter, J.; Boettcher, T.; Körner, K.; Gronle, M.; Osten, W.; Passilly, N.; Froehly, L.; Perrin, S.; Gorecki, C.

2015-09-01

In recent years, optical coherence tomography (OCT) became gained importance in medical disciplines like ophthalmology, due to its noninvasive optical imaging technique with micrometer resolution and short measurement time. It enables e. g. the measurement and visualization of the depth structure of the retina. In other medical disciplines like dermatology, histopathological analysis is still the gold standard for skin cancer diagnosis. The EU-funded project VIAMOS (Vertically Integrated Array-type Mirau-based OCT System) proposes a new type of OCT system combined with micro-technologies to provide a hand-held, low-cost and miniaturized OCT system. The concept is a combination of full-field and full-range swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) detection in a multi-channel sensor based on a micro-optical Mirau-interferometer array, which is fabricated by means of wafer fabrication. This paper presents the study of an experimental proof-of-concept OCT system as a one-channel sensor with bulk optics. This sensor is a Linnik-interferometer type with similar optical parameters as the Mirau-interferometer array. A commercial wavelength tunable light source with a center wavelength at 845nm and 50nm spectral bandwidth is used with a camera for parallel OCT A-Scan detection. In addition, the reference microscope objective lens of the Linnik-interferometer is mounted on a piezo-actuated phase-shifter. Phase-shifting interferometry (PSI) techniques are applied for resolving the conjugate complex artifact and consequently contribute to an increase of image quality and depth range. A suppression ratio of the complex conjugate term of 36 dB is shown and a system sensitivity greater than 96 dB could be measured.

Mapping the absolute magnetic field and evaluating the quadratic Zeeman-effect-induced systematic error in an atom interferometer gravimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Qing-Qing; Freier, Christian; Leykauf, Bastian; Schkolnik, Vladimir; Yang, Jun; Krutzik, Markus; Peters, Achim

2017-09-01

Precisely evaluating the systematic error induced by the quadratic Zeeman effect is important for developing atom interferometer gravimeters aiming at an accuracy in the μ Gal regime (1 μ Gal =10-8m /s2 ≈10-9g ). This paper reports on the experimental investigation of Raman spectroscopy-based magnetic field measurements and the evaluation of the systematic error in the gravimetric atom interferometer (GAIN) due to quadratic Zeeman effect. We discuss Raman duration and frequency step-size-dependent magnetic field measurement uncertainty, present vector light shift and tensor light shift induced magnetic field measurement offset, and map the absolute magnetic field inside the interferometer chamber of GAIN with an uncertainty of 0.72 nT and a spatial resolution of 12.8 mm. We evaluate the quadratic Zeeman-effect-induced gravity measurement error in GAIN as 2.04 μ Gal . The methods shown in this paper are important for precisely mapping the absolute magnetic field in vacuum and reducing the quadratic Zeeman-effect-induced systematic error in Raman transition-based precision measurements, such as atomic interferometer gravimeters.

Comparison of Atom Interferometers and Light Interferometers as Space-Based Gravitational Wave Detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, John G.

2012-01-01

We consider a class of proposed gravitational wave detectors based on multiple atomic interferometers separated by large baselines and referenced by common laser systems. We compute the sensitivity limits of these detectors due to intrinsic phase noise of the light sources, non-inertial motion of the light sources, and atomic shot noise and compare them to sensitivity limits for traditional light interferometers. We find that atom interferometers and light interferometers are limited in a nearly identical way by intrinsic phase noise and that both require similar mitigation strategies (e.g. multiple arm instruments) to reach interesting sensitivities. The sensitivity limit from motion of the light sources is slightly different and favors the atom interferometers in the low-frequency limit, although the limit in both cases is severe.

Comparison of atom interferometers and light interferometers as space-based gravitational wave detectors.

PubMed

Baker, John G; Thorpe, J I

2012-05-25

We consider a class of proposed gravitational-wave detectors based on multiple atomic interferometers separated by large baselines and referenced by common laser systems. We compute the sensitivity limits of these detectors due to intrinsic phase noise of the light sources, noninertial motion of the light sources, and atomic shot noise and compare them to sensitivity limits for traditional light interferometers. We find that atom interferometers and light interferometers are limited in a nearly identical way by intrinsic phase noise and that both require similar mitigation strategies (e.g., multiple-arm instruments) to reach interesting sensitivities. The sensitivity limit from motion of the light sources is slightly different and, in principle, favors the atom interferometers in the low-frequency limit, although the limit in both cases is severe.

Comparative Sensitivities of Gravitational Wave Detectors Based on Atom Interferometers and Light Interferometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, John G.; Thorpe, J. I.

2012-01-01

We consider a class of proposed gravitational wave detectors based on multiple atomic interferometers separated by large baselines and referenced by common laser systems. We compute the sensitivity limits of these detectors due to intrinsic phase noise of the light sources, non-inertial motion of the light sources, and atomic shot noise and compare them to sensitivity limits for traditional light interferometers. We find that atom interferometers and light interferometers are limited in a nearly identical way by intrinsic phase noise and that both require similar mitigation strategies (e.g. multiple arm instruments) to reach interesting sensitivities. The sensitivity limit from motion of the light sources is slightly different and favors the atom interferometers in the low-frequency limit, although the limit in both cases is severe. Whether this potential advantage outweighs the additional complexity associated with including atom interferometers will require further study.

16 × 16 non-blocking silicon optical switch based on electro-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometers.

PubMed

Lu, Liangjun; Zhao, Shuoyi; Zhou, Linjie; Li, Dong; Li, Zuxiang; Wang, Minjuan; Li, Xinwan; Chen, Jianping

2016-05-02

We experimentally demonstrate a 16 × 16 non-blocking optical switch fabric with a footprint of 10.7 × 4.4 mm². The switch fabric is composed of 56 2 × 2 silicon Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs), with each integrated with a pair of TiN resistive micro-heaters and a p-i-n diode. The average on-chip insertion loss at 1560 nm wavelength is ~6.7 dB and ~14 dB for the "all-cross" and "all-bar" states, respectively, with a loss variation of ± 1 dB over all routing paths. The measured rise/fall time of the switch upon electrical tuning is 3.2/2.5 ns. The switching functionality is verified by transmission of 20 Gb/s on-off keying (OOK) and 50 Gb/s quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) optical signals.

A Microwave Interferometer on an Air Track.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Polley, J. Patrick

1993-01-01

Uses an air track and microwave transmitters and receivers to make a Michelson interferometer. Includes three experiments: (1) measuring the wavelength of microwaves, (2) measuring the wavelength of microwaves by using the Doppler Effect, and (3) measuring the Doppler shift. (MVL)

Radio-frequency unbalanced M-Z interferometer for wavelength interrogation of fiber Bragg grating sensors.

PubMed

Zhou, Jiaao; Xia, Li; Cheng, Rui; Wen, Yongqiang; Rohollahnejad, Jalal

2016-01-15

The optical unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer (UMZI) has attracted significant interests for interrogation of FBG sensors owing to its excellent advantages in sensitivity, resolution, and demodulation speed. But this method is still limited to dynamic measurements due to its poor stability and reliability when used for quasi-static detections. Here, we propose for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a radio-frequency unbalanced M-Z interferometer (RF-UMZI) for interrogation of FBG sensors, which, owing to its operation in an incoherent rather than a coherent regime, provides an ideal solution for the existing stability problem of the conventional UMZI, with remarkable features of adjustable resolution and potentially extremely high sensitivity. A dispersion compensation fiber (DCF) and single-mode fiber (SMF) with a small length difference are served as the two unbalanced arms of the RF interferometer. The induced differential chromatic dispersion transfers the wavelength shift of the FBG to the change of the RF phase difference between the two interferometric carriers, which ultimately leads to the variation of the RF signal intensity. An interrogation of a strain-turned FBG was accomplished and a maximum sensitivity of 0.00835  a.u./με was obtained, which can easily be further improved by more than two orders of magnitude through various fiber dispersion components. Finally, the stability of the interrogation was tested.

Glancing angle Talbot-Lau grating interferometers for phase contrast imaging at high x-ray energy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stutman, D.; Finkenthal, M.

2012-08-01

A Talbot-Lau interferometer is demonstrated using micro-periodic gratings inclined at a glancing angle along the light propagation direction. Due to the increase in the effective thickness of the absorption gratings, the device enables differential phase contrast imaging at high x-ray energy, with improved fringe visibility (contrast). For instance, at 28° glancing angle, we obtain up to ˜35% overall interferometer contrast with a spectrum having ˜43 keV mean energy, suitable for medical applications. In addition, glancing angle interferometers could provide high contrast at energies above 100 keV, enabling industrial and security applications of phase contrast imaging.

Enhancing Tabletop X-Ray Phase Contrast Imaging with Nano-Fabrication

PubMed Central

Miao, Houxun; Gomella, Andrew A.; Harmon, Katherine J.; Bennett, Eric E.; Chedid, Nicholas; Znati, Sami; Panna, Alireza; Foster, Barbara A.; Bhandarkar, Priya; Wen, Han

2015-01-01

X-ray phase-contrast imaging is a promising approach for improving soft-tissue contrast and lowering radiation dose in biomedical applications. While current tabletop imaging systems adapt to common x-ray tubes and large-area detectors by employing absorptive elements such as absorption gratings or monolithic crystals to filter the beam, we developed nanometric phase gratings which enable tabletop x-ray far-field interferometry with only phase-shifting elements, leading to a substantial enhancement in the performance of phase contrast imaging. In a general sense the method transfers the demands on the spatial coherence of the x-ray source and the detector resolution to the feature size of x-ray phase masks. We demonstrate its capabilities in hard x-ray imaging experiments at a fraction of clinical dose levels and present comparisons with the existing Talbot-Lau interferometer and with conventional digital radiography. PMID:26315891

Wide-area phase-contrast X-ray imaging using large X-ray interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momose, Atsushi; Takeda, Tohoru; Yoneyama, Akio; Koyama, Ichiro; Itai, Yuji

2001-07-01

Large X-ray interferometers are developed for phase-contrast X-ray imaging aiming at medical applications. A monolithic X-ray interferometer and a separate one are studied, and currently a 25 mm×20 mm view area can be generated. This paper describes the strategy of our research program and some recent developments.

All optical coherent receiver for self-homodyne detection of digitally phase modulated optical signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiasaleh, Kamran

1994-02-01

A novel optical phase-locked loop (OPLL) system for the self-homodyne detection of digitally phase modulated optical signals is introduced. A Mach-Zehnder type interferometer is used to self-homodyne binary phase-modulated optical signals with an external phase modulator inserted in the control arm of the interferometer.

The characteristic of gap FBG and its application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yuanhong; Hu, Jun; Liu, Xuejing; Jin, Wei

2015-07-01

A gap fiber Bragg grating (g-FBG) is fabricated by cutting a uniform FBG in the middle to introduce a small air gap between the two sections. Numerical and experimental investigations show that the g-FBG has the characteristics of both a phase shifted FBG and a Fizeau interferometer. The influence of the air-gap shift longitudinally or transversely with respect to the fiber central axis and temperature to g-FBG's spectrums are investigated with numerical simulation and experiments, and the mathematic models are made. Based on g-FBG's different sensitivity to gap width and temperature, a micro-gap and temperature simultaneous measurement sensor was demonstrated. And a g-FBG based tunable fiber ring laser with a narrow line-width is demonstrated.

All-optical clock recovery, photonic balancing, and saturated asymmetric filtering for fiber optic communication systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parsons, Earl Ryan

In this dissertation I investigated a multi-channel and multi-bit rate all-optical clock recovery device. This device, a birefringent Fabry-Perot resonator, had previously been demonstrated to simultaneously recover the clock signal from 10 wavelength channels operating at 10 Gb/s and one channel at 40 Gb/s. Similar to clock signals recovered from a conventional Fabry-Perot resonator, the clock signal from the birefringent resonator suffers from a bit pattern effect. I investigated this bit pattern effect for birefringent resonators numerically and experimentally and found that the bit pattern effect is less prominent than for clock signals from a conventional Fabry-Perot resonator. I also demonstrated photonic balancing which is an all-optical alternative to electrical balanced detection for phase shift keyed signals. An RZ-DPSK data signal was demodulated using a delay interferometer. The two logically opposite outputs from the delay interferometer then counter-propagated in a saturated SOA. This process created a differential signal which used all the signal power present in two consecutive symbols. I showed that this scheme could provide an optical alternative to electrical balanced detection by reducing the required OSNR by 3 dB. I also show how this method can provide amplitude regeneration to a signal after modulation format conversion. In this case an RZ-DPSK signal was converted to an amplitude modulation signal by the delay interferometer. The resulting amplitude modulated signal is degraded by both the amplitude noise and the phase noise of the original signal. The two logically opposite outputs from the delay interferometer again counter-propagated in a saturated SOA. Through limiting amplification and noise modulation this scheme provided amplitude regeneration and improved the Q-factor of the demodulated signal by 3.5 dB. Finally I investigated how SPM provided by the SOA can provide a method to reduce the in-band noise of a communication signal. The marks, which represented data, experienced a spectral shift due to SPM while the spaces, which consisted of noise, did not. A bandpass filter placed after the SOA then selected the signal and filtered out what was originally in-band noise. The receiver sensitivity was improved by 3 dB.

Multifold paths of neutrons in the three-beam interferometer detected by a tiny energy kick

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geppert-Kleinrath, Hermann; Denkmayr, Tobias; Sponar, Stephan; Lemmel, Hartmut; Jenke, Tobias; Hasegawa, Yuji

2018-05-01

A neutron optical experiment is presented to investigate the paths taken by neutrons in a three-beam interferometer. In various beam paths of the interferometer, the energy of the neutrons is partially shifted so that the faint traces are left along the beam path. By ascertaining an operational meaning to "the particle's path," which-path information is extracted from these faint traces with minimal perturbations. Theory is derived by simply following the time evolution of the wave function of the neutrons, which clarifies the observation in the framework of standard quantum mechanics. Which-way information is derived from the intensity, sinusoidally oscillating in time at different frequencies, which is considered to result from the interfering cross terms between stationary main component and the energy-shifted which-way signals. Final results give experimental evidence that the (partial) wave functions of the neutrons in each beam path are superimposed and present in multiple locations in the interferometer.

AGARD Conference Proceedings on Guidance and Control of Precision Guided Weapons Held in Geilo, Norway from 3-6 May 1988

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-01-11

EFFECT OF BANK-TO-TURN VERSUS SKID-TO-TURN STEERING ON THE MANOEUVRABILITY OF AUTONOMOUS PRECISION GUIDED MUUNITION AGAINST GROUND TARGETS by B.J.Damen...space. Basic Relationships of an Interferometer Gyro The Sagnac effect in the fiber optic gyro causes a phase shift in the sensor col during rotation with... a read-out coupler and an.avalanche photodiode for optical detection. The opto module is rigidly connected with the sensor module via a fiber link

Scientific Applications of Optical Instruments to Materials Research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Witherow, William K.

1997-01-01

Microgravity is a unique environment for materials and biotechnology processing. Microgravity minimizes or eliminates some of the effects that occur in one g. This can lead to the production of new materials or crystal structures. It is important to understand the processes that create these new materials. Thus, experiments are designed so that optical data collection can take place during the formation of the material. This presentation will discuss scientific application of optical instruments at MSFC. These instruments include a near-field scanning optical microscope, a miniaturized holographic system, and a phase-shifting interferometer.

Erbium-doped fiber ring laser with SMS modal interferometer for hydrogen sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ya-nan; Zhang, Lebin; Han, Bo; Peng, Huijie; Zhou, Tianmin; Lv, Ri-qing

2018-06-01

A hydrogen sensor based on erbium-doped fiber ring laser with modal interferometer is proposed. A single mode-multimode-single mode (SMS) modal interferometer structure coated with Pd/WO3 film is used as the sensing head, due to that it is easy to be fabricated and low cost. The sensing structure is inserted into an erbium-doped fiber ring laser in order to solve the problem of spectral confusion and improve the detection limit of the hydrogen sensor based on the SMS modal interferometer. The SMS sensing structure is acted as a fiber band-pass filter. When hydrogen concentration around the sensor is changed, it will induce the refractive index and strain variations of the Pd/WO3 film, and then shift the resonant spectrum of the SMS modal interferometer as well as the laser wavelength of the fiber ring laser. Therefore, the hydrogen concentration can be measured by monitoring the wavelength shift of the laser, which has high intensity and narrow full width half maximum. Experimental results demonstrate that the sensor has high sensitivity of 1.23 nm/%, low detection limit of 0.017%, good stability and excellent repeatability.

Optical fiber voltage sensor based on Michelsion interferometer using Fabry-Perot demodulation interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xinwei; He, Shengnan; Li, Dandan; Wang, Kai; Fan, Yan'en; Wu, Shuai

2014-11-01

We present an optical fiber voltage sensor by Michelsion interferometer (MI) employing a Fabry-Perot (F-P) interferometer and the DC phase tracking (DCPT) signal processing method. By mounting a MI fabricated by an optical fiber coupler on a piezoelectric (PZT) transducer bar, a dynamic strain would be generated to change the optical path difference (OPD) of the interferometer when the measured voltage was applied on the PZT. Applying an F-P interferometer to demodulate the optical intensity variation output of the MI, the voltage can be obtained. The experiment results show that the relationship between the optical intensity variation and the voltage applied on the PZT is approximately linear. Furthermore, the phase generate carrier (PGC) algorithm was applied to demodulate the output of the sensor also.

Dual-optical-response photonic crystal fibre interferometer for multi-parameter sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villatoro, Joel; Minkovich, Vladimir P.; Zubia, Joseba

2014-05-01

An all-fiber mode interferometer consisting of a short segment of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) fusion spliced to standard single mode optical fiber and pressed on localized regions is proposed for multi-parameter sensing. In our configuration, the physical parameter being sensed changes the fringe contrast (or visibility) of the interference pattern and also causes a shift to the same. To achieve this dual effect the device is pressed on localized regions over a few millimeters. In this manner we introduce losses and effective refractive index changes to the interference modes, hence visibility and shift to the interference pattern. Our interferometer is suitable for monitoring diverse physical parameters such as weight, force, pressure, load, etc. The advantage is that no temperature or power fluctuations compensation is required.

Extreme ultraviolet interferometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goldberg, Kenneth A.

EUV lithography is a promising and viable candidate for circuit fabrication with 0.1-micron critical dimension and smaller. In order to achieve diffraction-limited performance, all-reflective multilayer-coated lithographic imaging systems operating near 13-nm wavelength and 0.1 NA have system wavefront tolerances of 0.27 nm, or 0.02 waves RMS. Owing to the highly-sensitive resonant reflective properties of multilayer mirrors and extraordinarily tight tolerances set forth for their fabrication, EUV optical systems require at-wavelength EUV interferometry for final alignment and qualification. This dissertation discusses the development and successful implementation of high-accuracy EUV interferometric techniques. Proof-of-principle experiments with a prototype EUV point-diffraction interferometer for themore » measurement of Fresnel zoneplate lenses first demonstrated sub-wavelength EUV interferometric capability. These experiments spurred the development of the superior phase-shifting point-diffraction interferometer (PS/PDI), which has been implemented for the testing of an all-reflective lithographic-quality EUV optical system. Both systems rely on pinhole diffraction to produce spherical reference wavefronts in a common-path geometry. Extensive experiments demonstrate EUV wavefront-measuring precision beyond 0.02 waves RMS. EUV imaging experiments provide verification of the high-accuracy of the point-diffraction principle, and demonstrate the utility of the measurements in successfully predicting imaging performance. Complementary to the experimental research, several areas of theoretical investigation related to the novel PS/PDI system are presented. First-principles electromagnetic field simulations of pinhole diffraction are conducted to ascertain the upper limits of measurement accuracy and to guide selection of the pinhole diameter. Investigations of the relative merits of different PS/PDI configurations accompany a general study of the most significant sources of systematic measurement errors. To overcome a variety of experimental difficulties, several new methods in interferogram analysis and phase-retrieval were developed: the Fourier-Transform Method of Phase-Shift Determination, which uses Fourier-domain analysis to improve the accuracy of phase-shifting interferometry; the Fourier-Transform Guided Unwrap Method, which was developed to overcome difficulties associated with a high density of mid-spatial-frequency blemishes and which uses a low-spatial-frequency approximation to the measured wavefront to guide the phase unwrapping in the presence of noise; and, finally, an expedient method of Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization which facilitates polynomial basis transformations in wave-front surface fitting procedures.« less

Applications of phase-contrast x-ray imaging to medicine using an x-ray interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momose, Atsushi; Yoneyama, Akio; Takeda, Tohoru; Itai, Yuji; Tu, Jinhong; Hirano, Keiichi

1999-10-01

We are investigating possible medical applications of phase- contrast X-ray imaging using an X-ray interferometer. This paper introduces the strategy of the research project and the present status. The main subject is to broaden the observation area to enable in vivo observation. For this purpose, large X-ray interferometers were developed, and 2.5 cm X 1.5 cm interference patterns were generated using synchrotron X-rays. An improvement of the spatial resolution is also included in the project, and an X-ray interferometer designed for high-resolution phase-contrast X-ray imaging was fabricated and tested. In parallel with the instrumental developments, various soft tissues are observed by phase- contrast X-ray CT to find correspondence between the generated contrast and our histological knowledge. The observation done so far suggests that cancerous tissues are differentiated from normal tissues and that blood can produce phase contrast. Furthermore, this project includes exploring materials that modulate phase contrast for selective imaging.

Naturally stable Sagnac–Michelson nonlinear interferometer

DOE PAGES

Lukens, Joseph M.; Peters, Nicholas A.; Pooser, Raphael C.

2016-11-16

Interferometers measure a wide variety of dynamic processes by converting a phase change into an intensity change. Nonlinear interferometers, making use of nonlinear media in lieu of beamsplitters, promise substantial improvement in the quest to reach the ultimate sensitivity limits. Here we demonstrate a new nonlinear interferometer utilizing a single parametric amplifier for mode mixing conceptually, a nonlinear version of the conventional Michelson interferometer with its arms collapsed together. We observe up to 99.9% interference visibility and find evidence for noise reduction based on phase-sensitive gain. As a result, our configuration utilizes fewer components than previous demonstrations and requires nomore » active stabilization, offering new capabilities for practical nonlinear interferometric-based sensors.« less

Development of a Multi-Point Microwave Interferometry (MPMI) Method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Specht, Paul Elliott; Cooper, Marcia A.; Jilek, Brook Anton

2015-09-01

A multi-point microwave interferometer (MPMI) concept was developed for non-invasively tracking a shock, reaction, or detonation front in energetic media. Initially, a single-point, heterodyne microwave interferometry capability was established. The design, construction, and verification of the single-point interferometer provided a knowledge base for the creation of the MPMI concept. The MPMI concept uses an electro-optic (EO) crystal to impart a time-varying phase lag onto a laser at the microwave frequency. Polarization optics converts this phase lag into an amplitude modulation, which is analyzed in a heterodyne interfer- ometer to detect Doppler shifts in the microwave frequency. A version of themore » MPMI was constructed to experimentally measure the frequency of a microwave source through the EO modulation of a laser. The successful extraction of the microwave frequency proved the underlying physical concept of the MPMI design, and highlighted the challenges associated with the longer microwave wavelength. The frequency measurements made with the current equipment contained too much uncertainty for an accurate velocity measurement. Potential alterations to the current construction are presented to improve the quality of the measured signal and enable multiple accurate velocity measurements.« less

Hardware Verification of Laser Noise Cancellation and Gravitational Wave Extraction using Time-Delay Interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitryk, Shawn; Mueller, Guido

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is a space-based modified Michelson interfer-ometer designed to measure gravitational radiation in the frequency range from 30 uHz to 1 Hz. The interferometer measurement system (IMS) utilizes one-way laser phase measurements to cancel the laser phase noise, reconstruct the proof-mass motion, and extract the gravitational wave (GW) induced laser phase modulations in post-processing using a technique called time-delay interferometry (TDI). Unfortunately, there exist few hard-ware verification experiments of the IMS. The University of Florida LISA Interferometry Simulator (UFLIS) is designed to perform hardware-in-the-loop simulations of the LISA interferometry system, modeling the characteris-tics of the LISA mission as accurately as possible. This depends, first, on replicating the laser pre-stabilization by locking the laser phase to an ultra-stable Zerodur cavity length reference using the PDH locking method. Phase measurements of LISA-like photodetector beat-notes are taken using the UF-phasemeter (PM) which can measure the laser BN frequency to within an accuracy of 0.22 uHz. The inter-space craft (SC) laser links including the time-delay due to the 5 Gm light travel time along the LISA arms, the laser Doppler shifts due to differential SC motion, and the GW induced laser phase modulations are simulated electronically using the electronic phase delay (EPD) unit. The EPD unit replicates the laser field propagation between SC by measuring a photodetector beat-note frequency with the UF-phasemeter and storing the information in memory. After the requested delay time, the frequency information is added to a Doppler offset and a GW-like frequency modulation. The signal is then regenerated with the inter-SC laser phase affects applied. Utilizing these components, I will present the first complete TDI simulations performed using the UFLIS. The LISA model is presented along-side the simulation, comparing the generation and measurement of LISA-like signals. Phasemeter measurements are used in post-processing and combined in the linear combinations defined by TDI, thus, canceling the laser phase and phase-lock loop noise to extract the applied GW modulation buried under the noise. Nine order of magnitude common mode laser noise cancellation is achieved at a frequency of 1 mHz and the GW signal is clearly visible after the laser and PLL noise cancellation.

Full-field optical coherence tomography image restoration based on Hilbert transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Na, Jihoon; Choi, Woo June; Choi, Eun Seo; Ryu, Seon Young; Lee, Byeong Ha

2007-02-01

We propose the envelope detection method that is based on Hilbert transform for image restoration in full-filed optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT). The FF-OCT system presenting a high-axial resolution of 0.9 μm was implemented with a Kohler illuminator based on Linnik interferometer configuration. A 250 W customized quartz tungsten halogen lamp was used as a broadband light source and a CCD camera was used as a 2-dimentional detector array. The proposed image restoration method for FF-OCT requires only single phase-shifting. By using both the original and the phase-shifted images, we could remove the offset and the background signals from the interference fringe images. The desired coherent envelope image was obtained by applying Hilbert transform. With the proposed image restoration method, we demonstrate en-face imaging performance of the implemented FF-OCT system by presenting a tilted mirror surface, an integrated circuit chip, and a piece of onion epithelium.

Computerized lateral-shear interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasegan, Sorin A.; Jianu, Angela; Vlad, Valentin I.

1998-07-01

A lateral-shear interferometer, coupled with a computer for laser wavefront analysis, is described. A CCD camera is used to transfer the fringe images through a frame-grabber into a PC. 3D phase maps are obtained by fringe pattern processing using a new algorithm for direct spatial reconstruction of the optical phase. The program describes phase maps by Zernike polynomials yielding an analytical description of the wavefront aberration. A compact lateral-shear interferometer has been built using a laser diode as light source, a CCD camera and a rechargeable battery supply, which allows measurements in-situ, if necessary.

Interferometer for Measuring Displacement to Within 20 pm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhao, Feng

2003-01-01

An optical heterodyne interferometer that can be used to measure linear displacements with an error <=20 pm has been developed. The remarkable accuracy of this interferometer is achieved through a design that includes (1) a wavefront split that reduces (relative to amplitude splits used in other interferometers) self interference and (2) a common-optical-path configuration that affords common-mode cancellation of the interference effects of thermal-expansion changes in optical-path lengths. The most popular method of displacement- measuring interferometry involves two beams, the polarizations of which are meant to be kept orthogonal upstream of the final interference location, where the difference between the phases of the two beams is measured. Polarization leakages (deviations from the desired perfect orthogonality) contaminate the phase measurement with periodic nonlinear errors. In commercial interferometers, these phase-measurement errors result in displacement errors in the approximate range of 1 to 10 nm. Moreover, because prior interferometers lack compensation for thermal-expansion changes in optical-path lengths, they are subject to additional displacement errors characterized by a temperature sensitivity of about 100 nm/K. Because the present interferometer does not utilize polarization in the separation and combination of the two interfering beams and because of the common-mode cancellation of thermal-expansion effects, the periodic nonlinear errors and the sensitivity to temperature changes are much smaller than in other interferometers

Interferometric characterization of tear film dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Primeau, Brian Christopher

The anterior refracting surface of the eye is the thin tear film that forms on the surface of the cornea. When a contact lens is on worn, the tear film covers the contact lens as it would a bare cornea, and is affected by the contact lens material properties. Tear film irregularity can cause both discomfort and vision quality degradation. Under normal conditions, the tear film is less than 10 microns thick and the thickness and topography change in the time between blinks. In order to both better understand the tear film, and to characterize how contact lenses affect tear film behavior, two interferometers were designed and built to separately measure tear film behavior in vitro and in vivo. An in vitro method of characterizing dynamic fluid layers applied to contact lenses mounted on mechanical substrates has been developed using a phase-shifting Twyman-Green interferometer. This interferometer continuously measures light reflected from the surface of the fluid layer, allowing precision analysis of the dynamic fluid layer. Movies showing this fluid layer behavior can be generated. The fluid behavior on the contact lens surface is measured, allowing quantitative analysis beyond what typical contact angle or visual inspection methods provide. The in vivo interferometer is a similar system, with additional modules included to provide capability for human testing. This tear film measurement allows analysis beyond capabilities of typical fluorescein visual inspection or videokeratometry and provides better sensitivity and resolution than shearing interferometry methods.

Measuring the fine structure constant with Bragg diffraction and Bloch oscillations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parker, Richard; Yu, Chenghui; Zhong, Weicheng; Estey, Brian; Müller, Holger

2017-04-01

We have demonstrated a new scheme for atom interferometry based on large-momentum-transfer Bragg beam splitters and Bloch oscillations. In this new scheme, we have achieved a resolution of δÎ+/-/Î+/-=0.25ppb in the fine structure constant measurement, which gives over 10 million radians of phase difference between freely evolving matter waves. We have suppressed many systematic effects known in most atom interferometers with Raman beam splitters such as light shift, Zeeman effect shift as well as vibration. We have also simulated multi-atom Bragg diffraction to understand sub-ppb systematic effects, and implemented spatial filtering to further suppress systematic effects. We present our recent progress toward a measurement of the fine structure constant, which will provide a stringent test of the standard model of particle physics.

High-sensitivity pressure sensor based on fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Yue; Xu, Yao; Yang, Yuguang; Jin, Wenxing; Jiang, Youchao; Shen, Ya; Jian, Shuisheng

2017-10-01

In this paper we propose and experimentally demonstrate an optical fiber structure sensor based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer for pressure measurement. The fiber sensor is composed of a single-mode-no-core-single-mode structure, a section of capillary pure silica tube and refractive index matching fluid (RIMF). As the pressure decreases, the sealed air in the tube expands and the liquid level of the RIMF increases, which causes a wavelength shift of the interferometer. The measurement of the pressure variation can thus be achieved by monitoring the wavelength shift. The experimental results agree well with the numerical simulation, and a maximum pressure sensitivity of 266.6 nm Mpa-1 is achieved experimentally. Furthermore, the proposed fiber sensor has the potential to obtain higher sensitivity by enlarging the length of the air cavity.

New data processing for multichannel FIR laser interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jun-Ben, Chen; Xiang, Gao

1989-10-01

Usually, both the probing and reference signals received by LATGS detectors of FIR interferometer pass through hardware phase discriminator and the output phase difference--hence the electron line densities is collected for analysis and display with a computerized data acquisition system(DAS). In this paper, a new numerical method for computing the phase difference in software has been developed instead of hardware phase discriminator, the temporal resolution and stability is improved. An asymmetrical Abel inversion is applied to processing the data from a seven-channel FIR HCN laser interferometer and the space-time distributions of plasma electron density in the HT-6M tokamak are derived.

Random technique to encode complex valued holograms with on axis reconstruction onto phase-only displays.

PubMed

Luis Martínez Fuentes, Jose; Moreno, Ignacio

2018-03-05

A new technique for encoding the amplitude and phase of diffracted fields in digital holography is proposed. It is based on a random spatial multiplexing of two phase-only diffractive patterns. The first one is the phase information of the intended pattern, while the second one is a diverging optical element whose purpose is the control of the amplitude. A random number determines the choice between these two diffractive patterns at each pixel, and the amplitude information of the desired field governs its discrimination threshold. This proposed technique is computationally fast and does not require iterative methods, and the complex field reconstruction appears on axis. We experimentally demonstrate this new encoding technique with holograms implemented onto a flicker-free phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM), which allows the axial generation of such holograms. The experimental verification includes the phase measurement of generated patterns with a phase-shifting polarization interferometer implemented in the same experimental setup.

Tomographic image reconstruction using x-ray phase information

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momose, Atsushi; Takeda, Tohoru; Itai, Yuji; Hirano, Keiichi

1996-04-01

We have been developing phase-contrast x-ray computed tomography (CT) to make possible the observation of biological soft tissues without contrast enhancement. Phase-contrast x-ray CT requires for its input data the x-ray phase-shift distributions or phase-mapping images caused by an object. These were measured with newly developed fringe-scanning x-ray interferometry. Phase-mapping images at different projection directions were obtained by rotating the object in an x-ray interferometer, and were processed with a standard CT algorithm. A phase-contrast x-ray CT image of a nonstained cancerous tissue was obtained using 17.7 keV synchrotron x rays with 12 micrometer voxel size, although the size of the observation area was at most 5 mm. The cancerous lesions were readily distinguishable from normal tissues. Moreover, fine structures corresponding to cancerous degeneration and fibrous tissues were clearly depicted. It is estimated that the present system is sensitive down to a density deviation of 4 mg/cm3.

Investigation of the low flux servo-controlled limit of a co-phased interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Damé, Luc; Derrien, Marc; Kozlowski, Mathias; Merdjane, Mohamed

2018-04-01

This paper, "Investigation of the low flux servo-controlled limit of a co-phased interferometer," was presented as part of International Conference on Space Optics—ICSO 1997, held in Toulouse, France.

Vibration-immune high-sensitivity profilometer built with the technique of composite interferometry.

PubMed

Lin, Yu-Kai; Chang, Chun-Wei; Hou, Max T; Hsu, I-Jen

2016-03-10

A prototype of a profilometer was built with the technique of composite interferometry for measurement of the distribution of both the amplitude and phase information of the surface of a material simultaneously. The composite interferometer was composed of a Michelson interferometer for measuring the surface profile of the sample and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer for measuring the phase deviation caused by the scanning component and environmental perturbations. A high-sensitivity surface profile can be obtained by use of the phase compensation mechanism through subtraction of the phases of the interferograms detected in the two interferometers. With the new design and improvement of robustness of the optical system, the measurement speed and accuracy were significantly improved. Furthermore, an additional optical delay component results in a higher sensitivity of the interference signal. This prototype of vibration-immune profilometer was examined to have a displacement sensitivity of 0.64 nm.

Physical measurement with in-line fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer using differential phase white light interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aref, Seyed Hashem

2017-11-01

In this letter, the sensitivity to strain, curvature, and temperature of a sensor based on in-line fiber Mach-Zahnder interferometer (IFMZI) is studied and experimentally demonstrated. The sensing structure is simply a section of single mode fiber sandwiched between two abrupt tapers to achieve a compact IFMZI. The phase of interferometer changes with the measurand interaction, which is the basis for considering this structure for sensing. The physical parameter sensitivity of IFMZI sensor has been evaluated using differential white light interferometry (DWLI) technique as a phase read-out system. The differential configuration of the IFMZI sensor is used to achieve a high phase resolving power of ±0.062° for read-out interferometer by means of omission of phase noise of environment perturbations. The sensitivity of the sensor to the strain, curvature, and temperature has been measured 0.0199 degree/με, 757.00 degree/m-1, and 3.25 degree/°C, respectively.

The Abcd Formula of Phase Definition in Optical Interferometry: Combined Effect of Air Dispersion and Broad Passband

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathar, Richard J.

Long-baseline interferometry detects fringes created by superposition of two beams of light collected by two telescopes pointing into a common direction. The external path difference is commonly compensated by adding a variable optical path length (delay) through air for one beam such that the optical path difference between the beams remains close to zero near the detector. The ABCD formula assigns a (wrapped) phase to the signals A to D of an interference pattern shifted by multiples of 90 degrees in phase. We study the interplay between a broad spectral passband of the optics and the dispersion of the air in the compensating delay, which leads to small deviations between the ABCD phase and the reduced, monochromatic group-delay representation of the wave packets. This adds dispersion to the effects that have been discussed for evacuated interferometers before (Milman 2005).

Special relativity and interferometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Han, D.; Kim, Y. S.

1988-01-01

A new generation of gravitational wave detectors is expected to be based on interferometers. Yurke et al. (1986) introduced a class of interferometers characterized by SU(1,1) which can in principle achieve a phase sensitivity approaching 1/N, where N is thte total number of photons entering the interferometer. It is shown here that the SU(1,1) interferometer can serve as an analog computer for Wigner's little group of the Poincare\\'| group.

Photonic Crystal Fiber Mach-Zehnder Interferometer for Refractive Index Sensing

PubMed Central

Wang, Jian-Neng; Tang, Jaw-Luen

2012-01-01

We report on a refractive index sensor using a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) interferometer which was realized by fusion splicing a short section of PCF (Blaze Photonics, LMA-10) between two standard single mode fibers. The fully collapsed air holes of the PCF at the spice regions allow the coupling of PCF core and cladding modes that makes a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The transmission spectrum exhibits sinusoidal interference pattern which shifts differently when the cladding/core surface of the PCF is immersed with different RI of the surrounding medium. Experimental results using wavelength-shift interrogation for sensing different concentrations of sucrose solution show that a resolution of 1.62 × 10−4–8.88 × 10−4 RIU or 1.02 × 10−4–9.04 × 10−4 RIU (sensing length for 3.50 or 5.00 cm, respectively) was achieved for refractive indices in the range of 1.333 to 1.422, suggesting that the PCF interferometer are attractive for chemical, biological, biochemical sensing with aqueous solutions, as well as for civil engineering and environmental monitoring applications. PMID:22736988

Photonic crystal fiber modal interferometer based on thin-core-fiber mode exciter.

PubMed

Miao, Yinping; Ma, Xixi; Wu, Jixuan; Song, Binbin; Zhang, Hao; Liu, Bo; Yao, Jianquan

2015-11-10

A thin-core-fiber excited photonic crystal fiber modal interferometer has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated. By employing a thin-core fiber as the mode exciter, both of the core and cladding modes propagate in the photonic crystal fiber and interfere with each other. The experimental results show that the transmission dips corresponding to different-order modes have various strain responses with opposite shift directions. The strain sensitivity could be improved to 58.57  pm/με for the applied strain from 0 to 491 με by utilizing the wavelength interval between the dips with opposite shift directions. Moreover, due to the pure silica property of the employed photonic crystal fiber, the proposed fiber modal interferometer exhibits a low-temperature sensitivity of about 0.56  pm/°C within a temperature range from 26.4°C (room temperature) to 70°C. Additionally, the proposed fiber modal interferometer has several advantages, such as good stability, compact structure, and simple fabrication. Therefore, it is more applicable for strain measurement with reducing temperature cross-sensitivity.

Photonic crystal fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer for refractive index sensing.

PubMed

Wang, Jian-Neng; Tang, Jaw-Luen

2012-01-01

We report on a refractive index sensor using a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) interferometer which was realized by fusion splicing a short section of PCF (Blaze Photonics, LMA-10) between two standard single mode fibers. The fully collapsed air holes of the PCF at the spice regions allow the coupling of PCF core and cladding modes that makes a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The transmission spectrum exhibits sinusoidal interference pattern which shifts differently when the cladding/core surface of the PCF is immersed with different RI of the surrounding medium. Experimental results using wavelength-shift interrogation for sensing different concentrations of sucrose solution show that a resolution of 1.62 × 10(-4)-8.88 × 10(-4) RIU or 1.02 × 10(-4)-9.04 × 10(-4) RIU (sensing length for 3.50 or 5.00 cm, respectively) was achieved for refractive indices in the range of 1.333 to 1.422, suggesting that the PCF interferometer are attractive for chemical, biological, biochemical sensing with aqueous solutions, as well as for civil engineering and environmental monitoring applications.

FIBER OPTICS: Polarization phase nonreciprocity in all-fiber ring interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreev, A. Ts; Vasilev, V. D.; Kozlov, V. A.; Kuznetsov, A. V.; Senatorov, A. A.; Shubochkin, R. L.

1993-08-01

The polarization phase nonreciprocity in all-fiber ring interferometers based on single-mode optical fibers was studied experimentally. The results confirm existing theoretical models. Experimentally, it was possible to use fiber ring interferometers to measure the extinction coefficients of optical fiber polarizers. The largest extinction coefficients found for optical-fiber polarizers were 84 dB (for the wavelength 0.82 μm) and 86 dB (1.3 μm).

Integrating single-point vibrometer and full-field electronic speckle pattern interferometer to evaluate a micro-speaker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Wen-Chi; Chen, Yu-Chi; Chien, Chih-Jen; Wang, An-Bang; Lee, Chih-Kung

2011-04-01

A testing system contains an advanced vibrometer/interferometer device (AVID) and a high-speed electronic speckle pattern interferometer (ESPI) was developed. AVID is a laser Doppler vibrometer that can be used to detect single-point linear and angular velocity with DC to 20 MHz bandwidth and with nanometer resolution. In swept frequency mode, frequency response from mHz to MHz of the structure of interest can be measured. The ESPI experimental setup can be used to measure full-field out-of-plane displacement. A 5-1 phase shifting method and a correlation algorithm were used to analyze the phase difference between the reference signal and the speckle signal scattered from the sample surface. In order to show the efficiency and effectiveness of AVID and ESPI, we designed a micro-speaker composed of a plate with fixed boundaries and two piezo-actuators attached to the sides of the plate. The AVID was used to measure the vibration of one of the piezo-actuators and the ESPI was adopted to measure the two-dimensional out-of-plane displacement of the plate. A microphone was used to measure the acoustic response created by the micro-speaker. Driving signal includes random signal, sinusoidal signal, amplitude modulated high-frequency carrier signal, etc. Angular response induced by amplitude modulated high-frequency carrier signal was found to be significantly narrower than the frequency responses created by other types of driving signals. The validity of our newly developed NDE system are detailed by comparing the relationship between the vibration signal of the micro-speaker and the acoustic field generated.

Apparatus and method for performing two-frequency interferometry

DOEpatents

Johnston, Roger G.

1990-01-01

The present apparatus includes a two-frequency, Zeeman-effect laser and matched, doubly refracting crystals in the construction of an accurate interferometer. Unlike other interferometric devices, the subject invention exhibits excellent phase stability owing to the use of single piece means for producing parallel interferometer arms, making the interferometer relatively insensitive to thermal and mechanical instabilities. Interferometers respond to differences in optical path length between their two arms. Unlike many interferometric techniques, which require the measurement of the location of interference fringes in a brightly illuminated background, the present invention permits the determination of the optical path length difference by measuring the phase of an electronic sine wave. The present apparatus is demonstrated as a differential thermooptic spectrometer for measuring differential optical absorption simply and accurately which is but one of many applications therefor. The relative intensities of the heating beams along each arm of the interferometer can be easily adjusted by observing a zero phase difference with identical samples when this condition is obtained.

Apparatus and method for performing two-frequency interferometry

DOEpatents

Johnston, R.G.

1988-01-25

The present apparatus includes a two-frequency, Zeeman Effect laser and matched, doubly refracting crystals in the construction of an accurate interferometer. Unlike other interferometric devices, the subject invention exhibits excellent phase stability owing to the use of single piece means for producing parallel interferometer arms, making the interferometer relatively insensitive to thermal and mechanical instabilities. Interferometers respond to differences in optical path length between their two arms. Unlike many interferometric techniques, which require the measurement of the location of interference fringes in a brightly illuminated background, the present invention permits the determination of the optical path length difference by measuring the phase of an electronic sine wave. The present apparatus is demonstrated as a differential thermooptic spectrometer for measuring differential optical absorption simply and accurately which is but one of many applications therefor. The relative intensities of the heating beams along each arm of the interferometer can be easily adjusted by observing a zero phase difference with identical samples when this condition is obtained. 6 figs.

Improving interferometers by quantum light: toward testing quantum gravity on an optical bench

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruo-Berchera, Ivano; Degiovanni, Ivo P.; Olivares, Stefano; Traina, Paolo; Samantaray, Nigam; Genovese, M.

2016-09-01

We analyze in detail a system of two interferometers aimed at the detection of extremely faint phase fluctuations. The idea behind is that a correlated phase-signal like the one predicted by some phenomenological theory of Quantum Gravity (QG) could emerge by correlating the output ports of the interferometers, even when in the single interferometer it confounds with the background. We demonstrated that injecting quantum light in the free ports of the interferometers can reduce the photon noise of the system beyond the shot-noise, enhancing the resolution in the phase-correlation estimation. Our results confirm the benefit of using squeezed beams together with strong coherent beams in interferometry, even in this correlated case. On the other hand, our results concerning the possible use of photon number entanglement in twin beam state pave the way to interesting and probably unexplored areas of application of bipartite entanglement and, in particular, the possibility of reaching surprising uncertainty reduction exploiting new interferometric configurations, as in the case of the system described here.

Comparison of different phase retrieval algorithms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaufmann, Rolf; Plamondon, Mathieu; Hofmann, Jürgen; Neels, Antonia

2017-09-01

X-ray phase contrast imaging is attracting more and more interest. Since the phase cannot be measured directly an indirect method using e.g. a grating interferometer has to be applied. This contribution compares three different approaches to calculate the phase from Talbot-Lau interferometer measurements using a phase-stepping approach. Besides the usually applied Fourier coefficient method also a linear fitting technique and Taylor series expansion method are applied and compared.

Simultaneous DPSK demodulation and chirp management using delay interferometer in symmetric 40-Gb/s capability TWDM-PON system.

PubMed

Bi, Meihua; Xiao, Shilin; He, Hao; Yi, Lilin; Li, Zhengxuan; Li, Jun; Yang, Xuelin; Hu, Weisheng

2013-07-15

We propose a symmetric 40-Gb/s aggregate rate time and wavelength division multiplexed passive optical network (TWDM-PON) system with the capability of simultaneous downstream differential phase shift keying (DPSK) signal demodulation and upstream signal chirp management based on delay interferometer (DI). With the bi-pass characteristic of DI, we experimentally demonstrate the bidirectional transmission of signals at 10-Gb/s per wavelength, and achieve negligible power penalties after 50-km single mode fiber (SMF). For the uplink transmission with DI, a ~11-dB optical power budget improvement at a bit error ratio of 1e-3 is obtained and the extinction ratio (ER) of signal is also improved from 3.4 dB to 13.75 dB. Owing to this high ER, the upstream burst-mode transmitting is successfully presented in term of time-division multiplexing. Moreover, in our experiment, a ~38-dB power budget is obtained to support 256 users with 50-km SMF transmission.

Measurement of elasto-plastic deformations by speckle interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bova, Marco; Bruno, Luigi; Poggialini, Andrea

2010-09-01

In the paper the authors present an experimental equipment for elasto-plastic characterization of engineering materials by tensile tests. The stress state is imposed to a dog bone shaped specimen by a testing machine fixed on the optical table and designed for optimizing the performance of a speckle interferometer. All three displacement components are measured by a portable speckle interferometer fed by three laser diodes of 50 mW, by which the deformations of a surface of about 6×8 mm2 can be fully analyzed in details. All the equipment is driven by control electronics designed and realized on purpose, by which it is possible to accurately modify the intensity of the illumination sources, the position of a PZT actuator necessary for applying phase-shifting procedure, and the overall displacement applied to the specimen. The experiments were carried out in National Instrument LabVIEW environment, while the processing of the experimental data in Wolfram Mathematica environment. The paper reports the results of the elasto-plastic characterization of a high strength steel specimen.

Application of Phase Shifted, Laser Feedback Interferometry to Fluid Physics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ovryn, Ben; Eppell, Steven J.; Andrews, James H.; Khaydarov, John

1996-01-01

We have combined the principles of phase-shifting interferometry (PSI) and laser-feedback interferometry (LFI) to produce a new instrument that can measure both optical path length (OPL) changes and discern sample reflectivity variations. In LFI, coherent feedback of the incident light either reflected directly from a surface or reflected after transmission through a region of interest will modulate the output intensity of the laser. LFI can yield a high signal-to-noise ratio even for low reflectivity samples. By combining PSI and LFI, we have produced a robust instrument, based upon a HeNe laser, with high dynamic range that can be used to measure either static (dc) or oscillatory changes along the optical path. As with other forms of interferometry, large changes in OPL require phase unwrapping. Conversely, small phase changes are limited by the fraction of a fringe that can be measured. We introduce the phase shifts with an electro-optic modulator (EOM) and use either the Carre or Hariharan algorithms to determine the phase and visibility. We have determined the accuracy and precision of our technique by measuring both the bending of a cantilevered piezoelectric bimorph and linear ramps to the EOM. Using PSI, sub-nanometer displacements can be measured. We have combined our interferometer with a commercial microscope and scanning piezoelectric stage and have measured the variation in OPL and visibility for drops of PDMS (silicone oil) on coated single crystal silicon. Our measurement of the static contact angle agrees with the value of 68 deg stated in the literature.

Measuring the residual stress of transparent conductive oxide films on PET by the double-beam shadow Moiré interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hsi-Chao; Huang, Kuo-Ting; Lo, Yen-Ming; Chiu, Hsuan-Yi; Chen, Guan-Jhen

2011-09-01

The purpose of this research was to construct a measurement system which can fast and accurately analyze the residual stress of the flexible electronics. The transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films, tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), were deposited by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering using corresponding oxide targets on PET substrate. As we know that the shadow Moiré interferometry is a useable way to measure the large deformation. So we set up a double beam shadow Moiré interferometer to measure and analyze the residual stress of TCO films on PET. The feature was to develop a mathematical model and combine the image processing software. By the LabVIEW graphical software, we could measure the distance which is between the left and right fringe on the pattern to solve the curvature of deformed surface. Hence, the residual stress could calculate by the Stoney correction formula for the flexible electronics. By combining phase shifting method with shadow Moiré, the measurement resolution and accuracy have been greatly improved. We also had done the error analysis for the system whose relative error could be about 2%. Therefore, shadow Moiré interferometer is a non-destructive, fast, and simple system for the residual stress on TCO/PET films.

Optical spatial heterodyne interferometric Fourier transform technique (OSHIFT) and a resulting interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Georges, James A., III

2007-09-01

This article reports on the novel patent pending Optical Spatial Heterodyne Interferometric Fourier Transform Technique (the OSHIFT technique), the resulting interferometer also referred to as OSHIFT, and its preliminary results. OSHIFT was borne out of the following requirements: wavefront sensitivity on the order of 1/100 waves, high-frequency wavefront spatial sampling, snapshot 100Hz operation, and the ability to deal with discontinuous wavefronts. The first two capabilities lend themselves to the use of traditional interferometric techniques; however, the last two prove difficult for standard techniques, e.g., phase shifting interferometry tends to take a time sequence of images and most interferometers require estimation of a center fringe across wavefront discontinuities. OSHIFT overcomes these challenges by employing a spatial heterodyning concept in the Fourier (image) plane of the optic-under-test. This concept, the mathematical theory, an autocorrelation view of operation, and the design with results of OSHIFT will be discussed. Also discussed will be future concepts such as a sensor that could interrogate an entire imaging system as well as a methodology to create innovative imaging systems that encode wavefront information onto the image. Certain techniques and systems described in this paper are the subject of a patent application currently pending in the United States Patent Office.

All-optical phase shifter and switch near 1550nm using tungsten disulfide (WS2) deposited tapered fiber.

PubMed

Wu, Kan; Guo, Chaoshi; Wang, Hao; Zhang, Xiaoyan; Wang, Jun; Chen, Jianping

2017-07-24

All-optical phase shifters and switches play an important role for various all-optical applications including all-optical signal processing, sensing and communication. In this paper, we demonstrate a fiber all-optical phase shifter using few-layer 2D material tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ) deposited on a tapered fiber. WS 2 absorbs injected 980 nm pump (control light) and generates heat, which changes the refractive index of both WS 2 and tapered fiber due to thermo-optic effect and achieves a maximum phase shift of 6.1π near 1550 nm. The device has a loss of 3.7 dB. By constructing a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with WS 2 based phase shifter in one arm, an all-optical switch is also obtained with an extinction ratio of 15 dB and a rise time of 7.3 ms. This all fiber low-cost and compact optical phase shifter and switch demonstrates the potential of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides for all-optical signal processing devices.

Lau phase interferometer for the measurement of the temperature and temperature profile of a gaseous flame

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shakher, Chandra; Thakur, Madhuri

2001-05-01

In this paper we have investigated the utility of Lau phase interferometer with white light source and circular gratings to measure temperature and temperature profile of an axisymmetric flame. In Lau phase interferometer the two gratings are separated by infinite distance. The third grating is placed at a distance Z equals n.p2(lambda) , (where n is an integer, d is the pitch of the grating and (lambda) is the wavelength of the white light source). The sensitivity of the system is determined by the pitch 'p' of the grating and the distance Z between the gratings. If the distance Z between the two gratings is increased to enhance the sensitivity, the accuracy of measurement is reduced because of the reduction in the fringe contrast. In white light Lau phase interferometer the fringe contrast can be improved by optimizing the self-image plane and the pitch of the grating. From the recorded interferogram the angle of deflection ((phi) ) is measured and temperature at a different point of the flame is calculated. The temperature measured using Lau phase interferometer is in good agreement with the temperature measured by thermocouple and dataloger. Details of the theoretical analysis and experimental results are presented.

Liquid crystal point diffraction interferometer. Ph.D. Thesis - Arizona Univ., 1995

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mercer, Carolyn R.

1995-01-01

A new instrument, the liquid crystal point diffraction-interferometer (LCPDI), has been developed for the measurement of phase objects. This instrument maintains the compact, robust design of Linnik's point diffraction interferometer (PDI) and adds to it phase stepping capability for quantitative interferogram analysis. The result is a compact, simple to align, environmentally insensitive interferometer capable of accurately measuring optical wavefronts with very high data density and with automated data reduction. This dissertation describes the theory of both the PDI and liquid crystal phase control. The design considerations for the LCPDI are presented, including manufacturing considerations. The operation and performance of the LCPDI are discussed, including sections regarding alignment, calibration, and amplitude modulation effects. The LCPDI is then demonstrated using two phase objects: defocus difference wavefront, and a temperature distribution across a heated chamber filled with silicone oil. The measured results are compared to theoretical or independently measured results and show excellent agreement. A computer simulation of the LCPDI was performed to verify the source of observed periodic phase measurement error. The error stems from intensity variations caused by dye molecules rotating within the liquid crystal layer. Methods are discussed for reducing this error. Algorithms are presented which reduce this error; they are also useful for any phase-stepping interferometer that has unwanted intensity fluctuations, such as those caused by unregulated lasers.

SCDU (Spectral Calibration Development Unit) Testbed Narrow Angle Astrometric Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Xu; Goullioud, Renaud; Nemati, Bijan; Shao, Michael; Wehmeier, Udo J.; Weilert, Mark A.; Werne, Thomas A.; Wu, Janet P.; Zhai, Chengxing

2010-01-01

The most stringent astrometric performance requirements on NASA's SIM(Space Interferometer Mission)-Lite mission will come from the so-called Narrow-Angle (NA) observing scenario, aimed at finding Earth-like exoplanets, where the interferometer chops between the target star and several nearby reference stars multiple times over the course of a single visit. Previously, about 20 pm NA error with various shifts was reported. Since then, investigation has been under way to understand the mechanisms that give rise to these shifts. In this paper we report our findings, the adopted mitigation strategies, and the resulting testbed performance.

Dynamic Strain Measured by Mach-Zehnder Interferometric Optical Fiber Sensors

PubMed Central

Her, Shiuh-Chuan; Yang, Chih-Min

2012-01-01

Optical fibers possess many advantages such as small size, light weight and immunity to electro-magnetic interference that meet the sensing requirements to a large extent. In this investigation, a Mach-Zehnder interferometric optical fiber sensor is used to measure the dynamic strain of a vibrating cantilever beam. A 3 × 3 coupler is employed to demodulate the phase shift of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The dynamic strain of a cantilever beam subjected to base excitation is determined by the optical fiber sensor. The experimental results are validated with the strain gauge. PMID:22737010

Analysis of the fluctuations of a laser beam due to thermal turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ndlovu, Sphumelele C.; Chetty, Naven

2014-07-01

A laser beam propagating in air and passing through a point diffraction interferometer (PDI) produces stable interferograms that can be used to extract wavefront data such as major atmospheric characteristics: turbulence strength, inner scale and outer scale of the refractive index. These parameters need to be taken into consideration when developing defense laser weapons since they can be affected by thermal fluctuations that are due to the changes in temperature in close proximity to the propagating beam and results in phase shifts that can be used to calculate the temperature which causes wavefront perturbations on a propagating beam.

Phase demodulation of Fabry-Perot interferometer-based acoustic sensor utilizing tunable filter with two quadrature wavelengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liao, Hao; Lu, Ping; Liu, Li; Liu, Deming; Zhang, Jiangshan

2017-02-01

A phase demodulation method for short-cavity extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) based on two orthogonal wavelengths via a tunable optical filter is proposed in this paper. A broadband light is launched into the EFPI sensor and two monochromatic beams with 3dB bandwidth of 0.2nm are selected out from the reflected light of the EFPI sensor. A phase bias is induced between the two interferential signals due to the wavelength difference of the two beams. The wavelength difference will have an affect on the sensitivity of demodulated signal, which has been theoretically and experimentally demonstrated. The maximum sensitivity can be obtained when the phase bias is 0.5π corresponding to the wavelength difference of 1/4 FSR of the EFPI spectrum. The acoustic wave induced phase variation can be interrogated through an optimized differential cross multiplication (DCM) method. A normalization process is induced into the traditional DCM method to eliminate the influence of ambient temperature and pressure fluctuation induced spectrum shift on output signal. This means that, once the wavelength difference is fixed, the wavelength variation of each individual beam will have little influence on the amplitude of demodulated signal. The EFPI sensing head is formed by a 3μm-thick aluminum diaphragm, which has a SNR of more than 53dB. Through the proposed demodulation scheme, a large dynamic range and good linearity is acquired and Q-point drift problem of traditional EFPI sensor can be solved. The demodulation scheme can be applied to other kinds of short-cavity EFPI based acoustic sensors.

First planet confirmation with the exoplanet tracker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Eyken, Julian C.; Ge, Jian C.; Mahadevan, Suvrath; DeWitt, Curtis; Ren, Deqing

2003-11-01

The Exoplanet Tracker (ET) is a new concept of instrument for measuring stellar radial velocity variations. ET is based on a dispersed fixed-delay interferometer, a combination of Michelson interferometer and medium resolution (R~6700) spectrograph which overlays interferometer fringes on a long-slit stellar spectrum. By measuring shifts in the fringes rather than the Doppler shifts in the absorption lines themselves, we are able to make accurate stellar radial velocity measurements with a high throughput and low cost instrument. The single-order operation of the instrument can also in principle allow multi-object observations. We plan eventually to conduct deep large scale surveys for extra-solar planets using this technique. We present confirmation of the planetary companion to 51Peg from our first stellar observations at the Kitt Peak 2.1m telescope, showing results consistent with previous observations. We outline the fundamentals of the instrument, and summarize our current progress in terms of accuracy and throughput.

Compact all-fiber interferometer system for shock acceleration measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jiang; Pi, Shaohua; Hong, Guangwei; Zhao, Dong; Jia, Bo

2013-08-01

Acceleration measurement plays an important role in a variety of fields in science and engineering. In particular, the accurate, continuous and non-contact recording of the shock acceleration profiles of the free target surfaces is considered as a critical technique in shock physics. Various kinds of optical interferometers have been developed to monitor the motion of the surfaces of shocked targets since the 1960s, for instance, the velocity interferometer system for any reflector, the fiber optic accelerometer, the photonic Doppler velocimetry system and the displacement interferometer. However, most of such systems rely on the coherent quasi-monochromatic illumination and discrete optic elements, which are costly in setting-up and maintenance. In 1996, L. Levin et al reported an interferometric fiber-optic Doppler velocimeter with high-dynamic range, in which fiber-coupled components were used to replace the discrete optic elements. However, the fringe visibility of the Levin's system is low because of the coupled components, which greatly limits the reliability and accuracy in the shock measurement. In this paper, a compact all-fiber interferometer system for measuring the shock acceleration is developed and tested. The advantage of the system is that not only removes the non-interfering light and enhances the fringe visibility, but also reduces polarization induced signal fading and the polarization induced phase shift. Moreover, it also does not require a source of long coherence length. The system bases entirely on single-mode fiber optics and mainly consists of a polarization beam splitter, a faraday rotator, a depolarizer and a 3×3 single-mode fiber coupler which work at 1310 nm wavelength. The optical systems of the interferometer are described and the experimental results compared with a shock acceleration calibration system with a pneumatic exciter (PneuShockTM Model 9525C by The Modal Shop) are reported. In the shock acceleration test, the interferometer system measured shock acceleration with peak accelerations of ~100,000 m/s2 and the durations of ~0.2 ms which are conformed to the results of the shock acceleration calibration system. The measured relative error of the acceleration is within 3%.

Spatio-temporal phase retrieval in speckle interferometry with Hilbert transform and two-dimensional phase unwrapping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiangyu; Huang, Zhanhua; Zhu, Meng; He, Jin; Zhang, Hao

2014-12-01

Hilbert transform (HT) is widely used in temporal speckle pattern interferometry, but errors from low modulations might propagate and corrupt the calculated phase. A spatio-temporal method for phase retrieval using temporal HT and spatial phase unwrapping is presented. In time domain, the wrapped phase difference between the initial and current states is directly determined by using HT. To avoid the influence of the low modulation intensity, the phase information between the two states is ignored. As a result, the phase unwrapping is shifted from time domain to space domain. A phase unwrapping algorithm based on discrete cosine transform is adopted by taking advantage of the information in adjacent pixels. An experiment is carried out with a Michelson-type interferometer to study the out-of-plane deformation field. High quality whole-field phase distribution maps with different fringe densities are obtained. Under the experimental conditions, the maximum number of fringes resolvable in a 416×416 frame is 30, which indicates a 15λ deformation along the direction of loading.

Optical refractometer based on an asymmetrical twin-core fiber Michelson interferometer.

PubMed

Zhou, Ai; Zhang, Yanhui; Li, Guangping; Yang, Jun; Wang, Yuzhuo; Tian, Fengjun; Yuan, Libo

2011-08-15

We report and demonstrate an optical refractometer based on a compact fiber Michelson interferometer. The Michelson interferometer is composed of an asymmetrical twin-core fiber containing a central core and a side core. By chemically etching a segment of the twin-core fiber until the side core is exposed, the effective index of the side core in the etched region is sensitive to the environmental refractive index, which leads to a shift of the transmission spectrum of the Michelson interferometer. The experimental results show that such a device has a refractive index resolution of more than 800 nm/refractive index unit in the range of 1.34-1.37. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Speckle interferometry using fiber optic phase stepping

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mercer, Carolyn R.; Beheim, Glenn

1989-01-01

A system employing closed-loop phase-stepping is used to measure the out-of-plane deformation of a diffusely reflecting object. Optical fibers are used to provide reference and object beam illumination for a standard two-beam speckle interferometer, providing set-up flexibility and ease of alignment. Piezoelectric fiber-stretchers and a phase-measurement/servo system are used to provide highly accurate phase steps. Intensity data is captured with a charge-injection-device camera, and is converted into a phase map using a desktop computer. The closed-loop phase-stepping system provides 90 deg phase steps which are accurate to 0.02 deg, greatly improving this system relative to open-loop interferometers. The system is demonstrated on a speckle interferometer, measuring the rigid-body translation of a diffusely reflecting object with an accuracy + or - 10 deg, or roughly + or - 15 nanometers. This accuracy is achieved without the use of a pneumatically mounted optics table.

Phase estimation with nonunitary interferometers: Information as a metric

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bahder, Thomas B.

2011-05-15

Determining the phase in one arm of a quantum interferometer is discussed taking into account the three nonideal aspects in real experiments: nondeterministic state preparation, nonunitary state evolution due to losses during state propagation, and imperfect state detection. A general expression is written for the probability of a measurement outcome taking into account these three nonideal aspects. As an example of applying the formalism, the classical Fisher information and fidelity (Shannon mutual information between phase and measurements) are computed for few-photon Fock and N00N states input into a lossy Mach-Zehnder interferometer. These three nonideal aspects lead to qualitative differences inmore » phase estimation, such as a decrease in fidelity and Fisher information that depends on the true value of the phase.« less

Self-Nulling Beam Combiner Using No External Phase Inverter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bloemhof, Eric E.

2010-01-01

A self-nulling beam combiner is proposed that completely eliminates the phase inversion subsystem from the nulling interferometer, and instead uses the intrinsic phase shifts in the beam splitters. Simplifying the flight instrument in this way will be a valuable enhancement of mission reliability. The tighter tolerances on R = T (R being reflection and T being transmission coefficients) required by the self-nulling configuration actually impose no new constraints on the architecture, as two adaptive nullers must be situated between beam splitters to correct small errors in the coatings. The new feature is exploiting the natural phase shifts in beam combiners to achieve the 180 phase inversion necessary for nulling. The advantage over prior art is that an entire subsystem, the field-flipping optics, can be eliminated. For ultimate simplicity in the flight instrument, one might fabricate coatings to very high tolerances and dispense with the adaptive nullers altogether, with all their moving parts, along with the field flipper subsystem. A single adaptive nuller upstream of the beam combiner may be required to correct beam train errors (systematic noise), but in some circumstances phase chopping reduces these errors substantially, and there may be ways to further reduce the chop residuals. Though such coatings are beyond the current state of the art, the mechanical simplicity and robustness of a flight system without field flipper or adaptive nullers would perhaps justify considerable effort on coating fabrication.

Laser interferometer used for nanometer vibration measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jiaxing; Yang, Jun; Liu, Zhihai; Yuan, Libo

2007-01-01

A novel laser interferometer which adopts alternating modulation phase tracking homodyne technique is proposed. The vibration of nanometer-accuracy is measured with the improved Michelson interferometer by adding cat's eye moving mirror and PZT phase modulation tracking structure. The working principle and the structure of the interferometer are analyzed and the demodulation scheme of alternating phase modulation and tracking is designed. The signal detection is changed from direct current detecting to alternating current detecting. The signal's frequency spectrum transform is achieved, the low-frequency noise jamming is abated, the Signal-to-Noise of the system is improved and the measured resolution is enhanced. Phase tracking technique effectively suppresses the low-frequency noise which is caused by outside environment factors such as temperature and vibration, and the stability of the system is enhanced. The experimental results indicate that for the signal with the frequency of 100Hz and the amplitude of 25nm, the output Signal-to-Noise is 30dB and the measured resolution is 1nm.

Common mode noise rejection properties of amplitude and phase noise in a heterodyne interferometer.

PubMed

Hechenblaikner, Gerald

2013-05-01

High precision metrology systems based on heterodyne interferometry can measure the position and attitude of objects to accuracies of picometer and nanorad, respectively. A frequently found feature of the general system design is the subtraction of a reference phase from the phase of the position interferometer, which suppresses low frequency common mode amplitude and phase fluctuations occurring in volatile optical path sections shared by both the position and reference interferometer. Spectral components of the noise at frequencies around or higher than the heterodyne frequency, however, are generally transmitted into the measurement band and may limit the measurement accuracy. Detailed analytical calculations complemented with Monte Carlo simulations show that high frequency noise components may also be entirely suppressed, depending on the relative difference of measurement and reference phase, which may be exploited by corresponding design provisions. While these results are applicable to any heterodyne interferometer with certain design characteristics, specific calculations and related discussions are given for the example of the optical metrology system of the LISA Pathfinder mission to space.

A fiber air-gap Fabry-Pérot temperature sensor demodulated by using frequency modulated continuous wave

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Wanfu; Xie, Jianglei; Li, Yi; Xu, Ben; Kang, Juan; Shen, Changyu; Wang, Jianfeng; Jin, Yongxing; Liu, Honglin; Ni, Kai; Dong, Xinyong; Zhao, Chunliu; Jin, Shangzhong

In this study, a fiber in-line air-gap Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) is fabricated by HF acid etching. For a low-cost and higher precise measurement, a demodulation system based on frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) technique is build up and demonstrated in this air-gap FPI. In temperature measurements, the temperature sensitivity is about 1.75 rad/°C by phase shift detection. We also test the long term performance of the system and the RMS error is about 0.04 rad, which corresponds to the temperature resolution of ~0.02 °C. It is much higher than the measurement resolution by using the traditional wavelength shift detection method. Our experiments show that the FMCW can provide a low-cost, high resolution and high speed interrogation solution to the fiber FPIs.

Electro-refractive photonic device

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zortman, William A.; Watts, Michael R.

2015-06-09

The various technologies presented herein relate to phase shifting light to facilitate any of light switching, modulation, amplification, etc. Structures are presented where a second layer is juxtaposed between a first layer and a third layer with respective doping facilitating formation of p-n junctions at the interface between the first layer and the second layer, and between the second layer and the third layer. Application of a bias causes a carrier concentration change to occur at the p-n junctions which causes a shift in the effective refractive index per incremental change in an applied bias voltage. The effective refractive indexmore » enhancement can occur in both reverse bias and forward bias. The structure can be incorporated into a waveguide, an optical resonator, a vertical junction device, a horizontal junction device, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, a tuneable optical filter, etc.« less

A chevron beam-splitter interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Breckinridge, J. B.

1979-01-01

Fully tilt compensated double-pass chevron beam splitter, that removes channelling effects and permits optical phase tuning, is wavelength independent and allows small errors in alignment that are not tolerated in Michelson, Machzender, or Sagnac interferometers. Device is very useful in experiments where background vibration affects conventional interferometers.

Study of the second-order relativistic light deflection of the Sun using long-baseline fibre-linked interferometers: Laser-Interferometric Solar Relativity (LISOR) test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ni, Wei-Tou; Shy, Jow-Tsong; Tseng, Shiao-Min; Shao, Michael

1992-01-01

A propasal to study the second order light deflection in the solar gravitational field is presented. It is proposed to use 1 to 2 W frequency stabilized lasers on two microspacecraft about 0.25 degree apart in the sky with apparent positions near the Sun, and observe the relative angle of two spacecraft using ground based fiber linked interferometers with 10 km baseline to determine the second order relativistic light deflection effects. The first two years of work would emphasize the establishment of a prototype stabilized laser system and fiber linked interferometer. The first year, a prototype fiber linked interferometer would be set up to study the phase noise produced by external perturbations to fiber links. The second year, a second interferometer would be set up. The cancellation of phase drift due to fiber links of both interferometers in the same environment would be investigated.

Phase unwrapping with a virtual Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor.

PubMed

Akondi, Vyas; Falldorf, Claas; Marcos, Susana; Vohnsen, Brian

2015-10-05

The use of a spatial light modulator for implementing a digital phase-shifting (PS) point diffraction interferometer (PDI) allows tunability in fringe spacing and in achieving PS without the need for mechanically moving parts. However, a small amount of detector or scatter noise could affect the accuracy of wavefront sensing. Here, a novel method of wavefront reconstruction incorporating a virtual Hartmann-Shack (HS) wavefront sensor is proposed that allows easy tuning of several wavefront sensor parameters. The proposed method was tested and compared with a Fourier unwrapping method implemented on a digital PS PDI. The rewrapping of the Fourier reconstructed wavefronts resulted in phase maps that matched well the original wrapped phase and the performance was found to be more stable and accurate than conventional methods. Through simulation studies, the superiority of the proposed virtual HS phase unwrapping method is shown in comparison with the Fourier unwrapping method in the presence of noise. Further, combining the two methods could improve accuracy when the signal-to-noise ratio is sufficiently high.

Phase-measuring laser holographic interferometer for use in high speed flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanta, William J.; Spring, W. Charles, III; Gross, Kimberly Uhrich; McArthur, J. Craig

Phase-measurement techniques have been applied to a dual-plate laser holographic interferometer (LHI). This interferometer has been used to determine the flowfield densities in a variety of two-dimensional and axisymmetric flows. In particular, LHI has been applied in three different experiments: flowfield measurements inside a two-dimensional scramjet inlet, flow over a blunt cone, and flow over an indented nose shape. Comparisons of experimentally determined densities with computational results indicate that, when phase-measurement techniques are used in conjunction with state-of-the-art image-processing instrumentation, holographic interferometry can be a diagnostic tool with high resolution, high accuracy, and rapid data retrieval.

Operation of a separated-type x-ray interferometer for phase-contrast x-ray imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoneyama, Akio; Momose, Atsushi; Seya, Eiichi; Hirano, Keiichi; Takeda, Tohoru; Itai, Yuji

1999-12-01

Aiming at large-area phase-contrast x-ray imaging, a separated-type x-ray interferometer system was designed and developed to produce 25×20 mm interference patterns. The skew-symmetric optical system was adopted because of the feasibility of alignment. The rotation between the separated crystal blocks was controlled within a drift of 0.06 nrad using a feedback positioning system. This interferometer generated a 25×15 mm interference pattern with 0.07 nm synchrotron x-rays. A slice of a rabbit's kidney was observed, and its tubular structure could be revealed in a measured phase map.

Temperature- and phase-independent lateral force sensor based on a core-offset multi-mode fiber interferometer.

PubMed

Dong, Bo; Zhou, Da-Peng; Wei, Li; Liu, Wing-Ki; Lit, John W Y

2008-11-10

A novel lateral force sensor based on a core-offset multi-mode fiber (MMF) interferometer is reported. High extinction ratio can be obtained by misaligning a fused cross section between the single-mode fiber (SMF) and MMF. With the variation of the lateral force applied to a short section of the MMF, the extinction ratio changes while the interference phase remains almost constant. The change of the extinction ratio is independent of temperature variations. The proposed force sensor has the advantages of temperature- and phase-independency, high extinction ratio sensitivity, good repeatability, low cost, and simple structure. Moreover, the core-offset MMF interferometer is expected to have applications in fiber filters and tunable phase-independent attenuators.

Hybrid shearing and phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer

DOEpatents

Goldberg, Kenneth Alan; Naulleau, Patrick P.

2003-06-03

A new interferometry configuration combines the strengths of two existing interferometry methods, improving the quality and extending the dynamic range of both. On the same patterned mask, placed near the image-plane of an optical system under test, patterns for phase-shifting point diffraction interferometry and lateral shearing interferometry coexist. The former giving verifiable high accuracy for the measurement of nearly diffraction-limited optical systems. The latter enabling the measurement of optical systems with more than one wave of aberration in the system wavefront. The interferometry configuration is a hybrid shearing and point diffraction interferometer system for testing an optical element that is positioned along an optical path including: a source of electromagnetic energy in the optical path; a first beam splitter that is secured to a device that includes means for maneuvering the first beam splitter in a first position wherein the first beam splitter is in the optical path dividing light from the source into a reference beam and a test beam and in a second position wherein the first beam splitter is outside the optical path: a hybrid mask which includes a first section that defines a test window and at least one reference pinhole and a second section that defines a second beam splitter wherein the hybrid mask is secured to a device that includes means for maneuvering either the first section or the second section into the optical path positioned in an image plane that is created by the optical element, with the proviso that the first section of the hybrid mask is positioned in the optical path when first beam splitter is positioned in the optical path; and a detector positioned after the hybrid mask along the optical path.

Fixing methods for the use of optical fibers in interferometric arrangements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cubik, Jakub; Kepak, Stanislav; Fajkus, Marcel; Zboril, Ondrej; Nedoma, Jan; Davidson, Alan; Vasinek, Vladimir

2016-12-01

Today interferometric sensors are among the most accurate available thanks to their inherent high sensitivity. These highly versatile sensors may be used to measure phenomena such as temperature, strain, fluid level, flow, vibration, stress, etc. This article concentrates on the composition of fiber-optic interferometers, in particular the Mach-Zehnder type. The Mach-Zehnder type is composed of two arms, one for measurement and a second serving as a reference. When light enters the interferometer, ideally the phase of the light is shifted only in the measurement arm while the phase in the second arm remains unchanged. Interference occurs when the light recombining at the output and the resulting light intensity is proportional to the measurand. A major issue in the application of fiber based sensors is laying and fixing the fibers effectively in real life environments. Different approaches are necessary for both arms. The reference arm should as far as possible be isolated from the measurand. In this paper, various isolating materials are considered, however there are almost unlimited materials that may be used for isolation purposes. Conventional construction methods and materials were used such as aluminum tubing, flexible PVC tubing, double sided tape, steel clinches, superglue, PVC strips and PVC strips filled by silicon.

Polydyne displacement interferometer using frequency-modulated light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arablu, Masoud; Smith, Stuart T.

2018-05-01

A radio-frequency Frequency-Modulated (FM) signal is used to diffract a He-Ne laser beam through an Acousto-Optic Modulator (AOM). Due to the modulation of the FM signal, the measured spectra of the diffracted beams comprise a series of phase-synchronized harmonics that have exact integer frequency separation. The first diffraction side-beam emerging from the AOM is selected by a slit to be used in a polydyne displacement interferometer in a Michelson interferometer topology. The displacement measurement is derived from the phase measurement of selected modulation harmonic pairs. Individual harmonic frequency amplitudes are measured using discrete Fourier transform applied to the signal from a single photodetector. Phase signals are derived from the changes in the amplitudes of different harmonic pairs (typically odd-even pairs) with the phase being extracted using a standard quadrature method. In this study, two different modulation frequencies of 5 and 10 kHz are used at different modulation depths. The measured displacements by different harmonic pairs are compared with a commercial heterodyne interferometer being used as a reference for these studies. Measurements obtained from five different harmonic pairs when the moving mirror of the interferometer is scanned over ranges up to 10 μm all show differences of less than 50 nm from the reference interferometer measurements. A drift test was also used to evaluate the differences between the polydyne interferometer and reference measurements that had different optical path lengths of approximately 25 mm and 50 mm, respectively. The drift test results indicate that about half of the differences can be attributed to temperature, pressure, and humidity variations. Other influences include Abbe and thermal expansion effects. Rough magnitude estimates using simple models for these two effects can account for remaining observed deviations.

Zero-fringe demodulation method based on location-dependent birefringence dispersion in polarized low-coherence interferometry.

PubMed

Wang, Shuang; Liu, Tiegen; Jiang, Junfeng; Liu, Kun; Yin, Jinde; Qin, Zunqi; Zou, Shengliang

2014-04-01

We present a high precision and fast speed demodulation method for a polarized low-coherence interferometer with location-dependent birefringence dispersion. Based on the characteristics of location-dependent birefringence dispersion and five-step phase-shifting technology, the method accurately retrieves the peak position of zero-fringe at the central wavelength, which avoids the fringe order ambiguity. The method processes data only in the spatial domain and reduces the computational load greatly. We successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method in an optical fiber Fabry-Perot barometric pressure sensing experiment system. Measurement precision of 0.091 kPa was realized in the pressure range of 160 kPa, and computation time was improved by 10 times compared to the traditional phase-based method that requires Fourier transform operation.

Thermal expansion coefficients of obliquely deposited MgF2 thin films and their intrinsic stress.

PubMed

Jaing, Cheng-Chung

2011-03-20

This study elucidates the effects of columnar angles and deposition angles on the thermal expansion coefficients and intrinsic stress behaviors of MgF2 films with columnar microstructures. The behaviors associated with temperature-dependent stresses in the MgF2 films are measured using a phase-shifting Twyman-Green interferometer with a heating stage and the application of a phase reduction algorithm. The thermal expansion coefficients of MgF2 films at various columnar angles were larger than those of glass substrates. The intrinsic stress in the MgF2 films with columnar microstructures was compressive, while the thermal stress was tensile. The thermal expansion coefficients of MgF2 films with columnar microstructures and their intrinsic stress evidently depended on the deposition angle and the columnar angle.

Monolithically integrated all-optical gate switch using intersubband transition in InGaAs/AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells.

PubMed

Akimoto, Ryoichi; Gozu, Shin-ichiro; Mozume, Teruo; Ishikawa, Hiroshi

2011-07-04

We have developed a compact all-optical gate switch with a footprint less than 1 mm2, in which an optical nonlinear waveguide using cross-phase-modulation associated with intersubband transition in InGaAs/AlGaAs/AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells and a Michelson interferometer (MI) are monolithically integrated on an InP chip. The MI configuration allows a transverse magnetic pump light direct access to an MI arm for phase modulation while passive photonic integrated circuits serve a transverse electric signal light. Full switching of the π-rad nonlinear phase shift is achieved with a pump pulse energy of 8.6 pJ at a 10-GHz repetition rate. We also demonstrate all-optical demultiplexing of a 160-Gb/s signal to a 40-Gb/s signal.

Interferometric scanning optical microscope for surface characterization.

PubMed

Offside, M J; Somekh, M G

1992-11-01

A phase-sensitive scanning optical microscope is described that can measure surface height changes down to 0.1 nm. This is achieved by using two heterodyne Michelson interferometers in parallel. One interferometer probes the sample with a tightly focused beam, and the second has a collimated beam that illuminates a large area of the surface, providing a large area on sample reference. This is facilitated by using a specially constructed objective lens that permits the relative areas illuminated by the two probe beams to be varied both arbitrarily and independently, thus ensuring an accurate absolute phase measurement. We subtracted the phase outputs from each interferometer to provide the sample phase information, canceling the phase noise resulting from microphonics in the process. Results from a prototype version of the microscope are presented that demonstrate the advantages of the system over existing techniques.

Transverse Pupil Shifts for Adaptive Optics Non-Common Path Calibration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bloemhof, Eric E.

2011-01-01

A simple new way of obtaining absolute wavefront measurements with a laboratory Fizeau interferometer was recently devised. In that case, the observed wavefront map is the difference of two cavity surfaces, those of the mirror under test and of an unknown reference surface on the Fizeau s transmission flat. The absolute surface of each can be determined by applying standard wavefront reconstruction techniques to two grids of absolute surface height differences of the mirror under test, obtained from pairs of measurements made with slight transverse shifts in X and Y. Adaptive optics systems typically provide an actuated periscope between wavefront sensor (WFS) and commonmode optics, used for lateral registration of deformable mirror (DM) to WFS. This periscope permits independent adjustment of either pupil or focal spot incident on the WFS. It would be used to give the required lateral pupil motion between common and non-common segments, analogous to the lateral shifts of the two phase contributions in the lab Fizeau. The technique is based on a completely new approach to calibration of phase. It offers unusual flexibility with regard to the transverse spatial frequency scales probed, and will give results quite quickly, making use of no auxiliary equipment other than that built into the adaptive optics system. The new technique may be applied to provide novel calibration information about other optical systems in which the beam may be shifted transversely in a controlled way.

Characterization of the JWST Pathfinder mirror dynamics using the center of curvature optical assembly (CoCOA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wells, Conrad; Hadaway, James B.; Olczak, Gene; Cosentino, Joseph; Johnston, John D.; Whitman, Tony; Connolly, Mark; Chaney, David; Knight, J. Scott; Telfer, Randal

2016-07-01

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Optical Telescope Element (OTE) consists of a 6.6 m clear aperture, 18 segment primary mirror, all-reflective, three-mirror anastigmat operating at cryogenic temperatures. To verify performance of the primary mirror, a full aperture center of curvature optical null test is performed under cryogenic conditions in Chamber A at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center (JSC) using an instantaneous phase measuring interferometer. After phasing the mirrors during the JWST Pathfinder testing, the interferometer is utilized to characterize the mirror relative piston and tilt dynamics under different facility configurations. The correlation between the motions seen on detectors at the focal plane and the interferometer validates the use of the interferometer for dynamic investigations. The success of planned test hardware improvements will be characterized by the multi-wavelength interferometer (MWIF) at the Center of Curvature Optical Assembly (CoCOA).

Characterization of the JWST Pathfinder Mirror Dynamics Using the Center of Curvature Optical Assembly (CoCOA)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wells, Conrad; Hadaway, James B.; Olczak, Gene; Cosentino, Joseph; Johnston, John D.; Whitman, Tony; Connolly, Mark; Chaney, David; Knight, J. Scott; Telfer, Randal

2016-01-01

The JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) Optical Telescope Element (OTE) consists of a 6.6 meter clear aperture, 18-segment primary mirror, all-reflective, three-mirror anastigmat operating at cryogenic temperatures. To verify performance of the primary mirror, a full aperture center of curvature optical null test is performed under cryogenic conditions in Chamber A at NASA Johnson Space Center using an instantaneous phase measuring interferometer. After phasing the mirrors during the JWST Pathfinder testing, the interferometer is utilized to characterize the mirror relative piston and tilt dynamics under different facility configurations. The correlation between the motions seen on detectors at the focal plane and the interferometer validates the use of the interferometer for dynamic investigations. The success of planned test hardware improvements will be characterized by the multi-wavelength interferometer (MWIF) at the Center of Curvature Optical Assembly (CoCOA).

Combining shearography and interferometric fringe projection in a single device for complete control of industrial applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blain, Pascal; Michel, Fabrice; Piron, Pierre; Renotte, Yvon; Habraken, Serge

2013-08-01

Noncontact optical measurement methods are essential tools in many industrial and research domains. A family of new noncontact optical measurement methods based on the polarization states splitting technique and monochromatic light projection as a way to overcome ambient lighting for in-situ measurement has been developed. Recent works on a birefringent element, a Savart plate, allow one to build a more flexible and robust interferometer. This interferometer is a multipurpose metrological device. On one hand the interferometer can be set in front of a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. This optical measurement system is called a shearography interferometer and allows one to measure microdisplacements between two states of the studied object under coherent lighting. On the other hand, by producing and shifting multiple sinusoidal Young's interference patterns with this interferometer, and using a CCD camera, it is possible to build a three-dimensional structured light profilometer.

Simultaneous Cotton-Mouton and Faraday rotation angle measurements on JET

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Boboc, A.; Zabeo, L.; Murari, A.

The change in the ellipticity of a laser beam that passes through plasma due to the Cotton-Mouton effect can provide additional information on the plasma density. This approach, complementary to the more traditional interferometric methods, has been implemented recently using the JET interferometer-polarimeter with a new setup. Routine Cotton-Mouton phase shift measurements are made on the vertical central chords simultaneously with the Faraday rotation angle data. These new data are used to provide robust line-integrated density measurements in difficult plasma scenarios, with strong Edge Localized Modes (ELMs) or pellets. These always affect interferometry, causing fringe jumps and preventing good controlmore » of the plasma density. A comparison of line-integrated density from polarimetry and interferometry measurements shows an agreement within 10%. Moreover, in JET the measurements can be performed close to a reactor relevant range of parameters, in particular, at high densities and temperatures. This provides a unique opportunity to assess the quality of the Faraday rotation and Cotton-Mouton phase shift measurements where both effects are strong and mutual nonlinear interaction between the two effects takes place.« less

0-π phase-controllable thermal Josephson junction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fornieri, Antonio; Timossi, Giuliano; Virtanen, Pauli; Solinas, Paolo; Giazotto, Francesco

2017-05-01

Two superconductors coupled by a weak link support an equilibrium Josephson electrical current that depends on the phase difference ϕ between the superconducting condensates. Yet, when a temperature gradient is imposed across the junction, the Josephson effect manifests itself through a coherent component of the heat current that flows opposite to the thermal gradient for |ϕ| < π/2 (refs 2-4). The direction of both the Josephson charge and heat currents can be inverted by adding a π shift to ϕ. In the static electrical case, this effect has been obtained in a few systems, for example via a ferromagnetic coupling or a non-equilibrium distribution in the weak link. These structures opened new possibilities for superconducting quantum logic and ultralow-power superconducting computers. Here, we report the first experimental realization of a thermal Josephson junction whose phase bias can be controlled from 0 to π. This is obtained thanks to a superconducting quantum interferometer that allows full control of the direction of the coherent energy transfer through the junction. This possibility, in conjunction with the completely superconducting nature of our system, provides temperature modulations with an unprecedented amplitude of ∼100 mK and transfer coefficients exceeding 1 K per flux quantum at 25 mK. Then, this quantum structure represents a fundamental step towards the realization of caloritronic logic components such as thermal transistors, switches and memory devices. These elements, combined with heat interferometers and diodes, would complete the thermal conversion of the most important phase-coherent electronic devices and benefit cryogenic microcircuits requiring energy management, such as quantum computing architectures and radiation sensors.

Reflection-induced linear polarization rotation and phase modulation between orthogonal waves for refractive index variation measurement.

PubMed

Twu, Ruey-Ching; Wang, Jhao-Sheng

2016-04-01

An optical phase interrogation is proposed to study reflection-induced linear polarization rotation in a common-path homodyne interferometer. This optical methodology can also be applied to the measurement of the refractive index variation of a liquid solution. The performance of the refractive index sensing structure is discussed theoretically, and the experimental results demonstrated a very good ability based on the proposed schemes. Compared with a conventional common-path heterodyne interferometer, the proposed homodyne interferometer with only a single channel reduced the usage of optic elements.

Interferometric characterization of the structured polarized light beam produced by the conical refraction phenomenon.

PubMed

Peinado, Alba; Turpin, Alex; Iemmi, Claudio; Márquez, Andrés; Kalkandjiev, Todor K; Mompart, Jordi; Campos, Juan

2015-07-13

The interest on the conical refraction (CR) phenomenon in biaxial crystals has revived in the last years due to its prospective for generating structured polarized light beams, i.e. vector beams. While the intensity and the polarization structure of the CR beams are well known, an accurate experimental study of their phase structure has not been yet carried out. We investigate the phase structure of the CR rings by means of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer while applying the phase-shifting interferometric technique to measure the phase at the focal plane. In general the two beams interfering correspond to different states of polarization (SOP) which locally vary. To distinguish if there is an additional phase added to the geometrical one we have derived the appropriate theoretical expressions using the Jones matrix formalism. We demonstrate that the phase of the CR rings is equivalent to that one introduced by an azimuthally segmented polarizer with CR-like polarization distribution. Additionally, we obtain direct evidence that the Poggendorff dark ring is an annular singularity, with a π phase change between the inner and outer bright rings.

Data Processing for Atmospheric Phase Interferometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Acosta, Roberto J.; Nessel, James A.; Morabito, David D.

2009-01-01

This paper presents a detailed discussion of calibration procedures used to analyze data recorded from a two-element atmospheric phase interferometer (API) deployed at Goldstone, California. In addition, we describe the data products derived from those measurements that can be used for site intercomparison and atmospheric modeling. Simulated data is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and as a means for validating our procedure. A study of the effect of block size filtering is presented to justify our process for isolating atmospheric fluctuation phenomena from other system-induced effects (e.g., satellite motion, thermal drift). A simulated 24 hr interferometer phase data time series is analyzed to illustrate the step-by-step calibration procedure and desired data products.

Interferometric analysis of polishing surface with a petal tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salas-Sánchez, Alfonso; Leal-Cabrera, Irce; Percino Zacarias, Elizabeth; Granados-Agustín, Fermín S.

2011-09-01

In this work, we describe a phase shift interferometric monitoring of polishing processes produced by a petal tool over a spherical surface to obtain a parabolic surface. In the process, we used a commercial polishing machine; the purpose of this work is to have control of polishing time. To achieve this analysis, we used a Fizeau interferometer of ZYGO Company for optical shop testing, and the Durango software from Diffraction International Company. For data acquisition, simulation and evaluation of optical surfaces, we start polishing process with a spherical surface with 15.46 cm of diameter; a 59.9 cm of radius curvature and, with f/# 1.9.

High-resolution interferometic microscope for traceable dimensional nanometrology in Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malinovski, I.; França, R. S.; Lima, M. S.; Bessa, M. S.; Silva, C. R.; Couceiro, I. B.

2016-07-01

The double color interferometric microscope is developed for step height standards nanometrology traceable to meter definition via primary wavelength laser standards. The setup is based on two stabilized lasers to provide traceable measurements of highest possible resolution down to the physical limits of the optical instruments in sub-nanometer to micrometer range of the heights. The wavelength reference is He-Ne 633 nm stabilized laser, the secondary source is Blue-Green 488 nm grating laser diode. Accurate fringe portion is measured by modulated phase-shift technique combined with imaging interferometry and Fourier processing. Self calibrating methods are developed to correct systematic interferometric errors.

Calibration uncertainty for Advanced LIGO's first and second observing runs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cahillane, Craig; Betzwieser, Joe; Brown, Duncan A.; Goetz, Evan; Hall, Evan D.; Izumi, Kiwamu; Kandhasamy, Shivaraj; Karki, Sudarshan; Kissel, Jeff S.; Mendell, Greg; Savage, Richard L.; Tuyenbayev, Darkhan; Urban, Alex; Viets, Aaron; Wade, Madeline; Weinstein, Alan J.

2017-11-01

Calibration of the Advanced LIGO detectors is the quantification of the detectors' response to gravitational waves. Gravitational waves incident on the detectors cause phase shifts in the interferometer laser light which are read out as intensity fluctuations at the detector output. Understanding this detector response to gravitational waves is crucial to producing accurate and precise gravitational wave strain data. Estimates of binary black hole and neutron star parameters and tests of general relativity require well-calibrated data, as miscalibrations will lead to biased results. We describe the method of producing calibration uncertainty estimates for both LIGO detectors in the first and second observing runs.

Quantum Optical Aspects of Topological Phases, Such as Berry’s Phase

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-11-10

by Franson, and by Home, Shimosy and Zeilinger , in two recent Physical Review Leuers (62, 2205 and 2209 (1989)), in order to observe a purely quantal...interferometer. We also set up a two-photon interferometer, similar to the ones suggested by Franson, and by Home, Shimony and Zeilinger , in two

A phase-stepped point diffraction interferometer using liquid crystals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mercer, Carolyn R.; Creath, Katherine; Rashidnia, Nasser

1995-01-01

A new instrument, the liquid crystal point diffraction interferometer (LCPDI), has been developed for the measurement of phase objects. This instrument maintains the compact, robust design of Linnik's point diffraction interferometer (PDI) and adds to it phase stepping capability for quantitative interferogram analysis. The result is a compact, simple to align, environmentally insensitive interferometer capable of accurately measuring optical wavefronts with high data density and with automated data reduction. The design of the LCPDI is briefly discussed. An algorithm is presented for eliminating phase measurement error caused by object beam intensity variation from frame-to-frame. The LCPDI is demonstrated by measuring the temperature distribution across a heated chamber filled with silicone oil. The measured results are compared to independently measured results and show excellent agreement with them. It is expected that this instrument will have application in the fluid sciences as a diagnostic tool, particularly in space based applications where autonomy, robustness, and compactness are desirable qualities. It should also be useful for the testing of optical elements, provided a master is available for comparison.

A photothermal Mach-Zehnder interferometer for measuring caffeine and proteins in aqueous solutions using external cavity quantum cascade lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kristament, Christian; Schwaighofer, Andreas; Montemurro, Milagros; Lendl, Bernhard

2018-02-01

One of the advantages of mid-IR spectroscopy in biomedical research lies in its capability to provide direct information on the secondary structure of proteins in their natural, often aqueous, environment. One impediment of direct absorption measurements in the correspondent spectral region is the strong absorbance of the native solvent (H2O). In this regard, the advent of broadly-tunable external cavity quantum cascade lasers (EC-QCL) allowed to significantly increasing the optical path length employed in transmission measurements due to their high spectral power densities. Low measured S/N ratios were improved by elaborated data analysis protocols that corrected mechanical flaws in the tuning mechanism of ECQCLs and allow for S/N ratios comparable to research grade FTIR spectrometers. Recent development of new optical set-ups outpacing direct absorption measurements led to further advancements. We present a dedicated Mach-Zehnder interferometer for photothermal measurements in balanced detection mode. In this highly sensitive design, the interferometer is illuminated by a HeNe laser to detect the refractive index change induced by the heat insertion of the EC-QCL. Here, we present photothermal phase shift interferometry measurements of caffeine in ethanol as well as casein in water. Further, the dependency of the signal amplitude on varying modulation frequencies was investigated for different liquids.

Surface profile measurement by using the integrated Linnik WLSI and confocal microscope system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei-Chung; Shen, Ming-Hsing; Hwang, Chi-Hung; Yu, Yun-Ting; Wang, Tzu-Fong

2017-06-01

The white-light scanning interferometer (WLSI) and confocal microscope (CM) are the two major optical inspection systems for measuring three-dimensional (3D) surface profile (SP) of micro specimens. Nevertheless, in practical applications, WLSI is more suitable for measuring smooth and low-slope surfaces. On the other hand, CM is more suitable for measuring uneven-reflective and low-reflective surfaces. As for aspect of surface profiles to be measured, the characteristics of WLSI and CM are also different. WLSI is generally used in semiconductor industry while CM is more popular in printed circuit board industry. In this paper, a self-assembled multi-function optical system was integrated to perform Linnik white-light scanning interferometer (Linnik WLSI) and CM. A connecting part composed of tubes, lenses and interferometer was used to conjunct finite and infinite optical systems for Linnik WLSI and CM in the self-assembled optical system. By adopting the flexibility of tubes and lenses, switching to perform two different optical measurements can be easily achieved. Furthermore, based on the shape from focus method with energy of Laplacian filter, the CM was developed to enhance the on focal information of each pixel so that the CM can provide all-in-focus image for performing the 3D SP measurement and analysis simultaneously. As for Linnik WLSI, eleven-step phase shifting algorithm was used to analyze vertical scanning signals and determine the 3D SP.

Detecting coupling of Majorana bound states with an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramos-Andrade, J. P.; Orellana, P. A.; Ulloa, S. E.

2018-01-01

We study the transport properties of an interferometer composed by a quantum dot (QD) coupled with two normal leads and two one-dimensional topological superconductor nanowires (TNWs) hosting Majorana bound states (MBS) at their ends. The geometry considered is such that one TNW has both ends connected with the QD, forming an Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interferometer threaded by an external magnetic flux, while the other TNW is placed near the interferometer TNW. This geometry can alternatively be seen as a long wire contacted across a local defect, with possible coupling between independent-MBS. We use the Green’s function formalism to calculate the conductance across normal current leads on the QD. We find that the conductance exhibits a half-quantum value regardless of the AB phase and location of the dot energy level, whenever the interferometer configuration interacts with the neighboring TNW. These findings suggest that such a geometry could be used for a sensitive detection of MBS interactions across TNWs, exploiting the high sensitivity of conductance to the AB phase in the interferometer.

Transport properties of a quantum dot and a quantum ring in series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, Minky; Chung, Yunchul

2018-01-01

The decoherence mechanism of an electron interferometer is studied by using a serial quantum dot and ring device. By coupling a quantum dot to a quantum ring (closed-loop electron interferometer), we were able to observe both Coulomb oscillations and Aharonov-Bohm interference simultaneously. The coupled device behaves like an ordinary double quantum dot at zero magnetic field while the conductance of the Coulomb blockade peak is modulated by the electron interference at finite magnetic fields. By injecting one electron at a time (by exploiting the sequential tunneling of a quantum dot) into the interferometer, we were able to study the visibility of the electron interference at non-zero bias voltage. The visibility was found to decay rapidly as the electron energy was increased, which was consistent with the recently reported result for an electron interferometer. However, the lobe pattern and the sudden phase jump became less prominent. These results imply that the lobe pattern and the phase jump in an electron interferometer may be due to electron interactions inside the interferometer, as is predicted by the theory.

Iodine-frequency-stabilized laser diode and displacement-measuring interferometer based on sinusoidal phase modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duong, Quang Anh; Vu, Thanh Tung; Higuchi, Masato; Wei, Dong; Aketagawa, Masato

2018-06-01

We propose a sinusoidal phase modulation method to achieve both the frequency stabilization of an external-cavity laser diode (ECLD) to an 127I2 saturated absorption transition near 633 nm and displacement measurement using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. First, the frequency of the ECLD is stabilized to the b 21 hyperfine component of the P(33) 6-3 transition of 127I2 by combining sinusoidal phase modulation by an electro-optic modulator and frequency modulation spectroscopy by chopping the pump beam using an acousto-optic modulator. Even though a small modulation index of m  =  3.768 rad is utilized, a relative frequency stability of 10‑11 order is obtained over a sampling time of 400 s. Secondly, the frequency-stabilized ECLD is applied as a light source to a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. From the two consecutive modulation harmonics (second and third orders) involved in the interferometer signal, the displacement of the moving mirror is determined for four optical path differences (L 0  =  100, 200, 500, and 1000 mm). The measured modulation indexes for the four optical path differences coincide with the designated value (3.768 rad) within 0.5%. Compared with the sinusoidal frequency modulation Michelson interferometer (Vu et al 2016 Meas. Sci. Technol. 27 105201) which was demonstrated by some of the same authors of this paper, the phase modulation Mach–Zhender interferometer could fix the modulation index to a constant value for the four optical path differences. In this report, we discuss the measurement principle, experimental system, and results.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yashchuk, V.V.; Takacs, P.; Anderson, E.H.

A modulation transfer function (MTF) calibration method based on binary pseudorandom (BPR) gratings and arrays has been proven to be an effective MTF calibration method for interferometric microscopes and a scatterometer. Here we report on a further expansion of the application range of the method. We describe the MTF calibration of a 6 in. phase shifting Fizeau interferometer. Beyond providing a direct measurement of the interferometer's MTF, tests with a BPR array surface have revealed an asymmetry in the instrument's data processing algorithm that fundamentally limits its bandwidth. Moreover, the tests have illustrated the effects of the instrument's detrending andmore » filtering procedures on power spectral density measurements. The details of the development of a BPR test sample suitable for calibration of scanning and transmission electron microscopes are also presented. Such a test sample is realized as a multilayer structure with the layer thicknesses of two materials corresponding to the BPR sequence. The investigations confirm the universal character of the method that makes it applicable to a large variety of metrology instrumentation with spatial wavelength bandwidths from a few nanometers to hundreds of millimeters.« less

Effective Inertial Frame in an Atom Interferometric Test of the Equivalence Principle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Overstreet, Chris; Asenbaum, Peter; Kovachy, Tim; Notermans, Remy; Hogan, Jason M.; Kasevich, Mark A.

2018-05-01

In an ideal test of the equivalence principle, the test masses fall in a common inertial frame. A real experiment is affected by gravity gradients, which introduce systematic errors by coupling to initial kinematic differences between the test masses. Here we demonstrate a method that reduces the sensitivity of a dual-species atom interferometer to initial kinematics by using a frequency shift of the mirror pulse to create an effective inertial frame for both atomic species. Using this method, we suppress the gravity-gradient-induced dependence of the differential phase on initial kinematic differences by 2 orders of magnitude and precisely measure these differences. We realize a relative precision of Δ g /g ≈6 ×10-11 per shot, which improves on the best previous result for a dual-species atom interferometer by more than 3 orders of magnitude. By reducing gravity gradient systematic errors to one part in 1 013 , these results pave the way for an atomic test of the equivalence principle at an accuracy comparable with state-of-the-art classical tests.

InGaAsP Mach-Zehnder interferometer optical modulator monolithically integrated with InGaAs driver MOSFET on a III-V CMOS photonics platform.

PubMed

Park, Jin-Kown; Takagi, Shinichi; Takenaka, Mitsuru

2018-02-19

We demonstrated the monolithic integration of a carrier-injection InGaAsP Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) optical modulator and InGaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) on a III-V-on-insulator (III-V-OI) wafer. A low-resistivity lateral PIN junction was formed along an InGaAsP rib waveguide by Zn diffusion and Ni-InGaAsP alloy, enabling direct driving of the InGaAsP optical modulator by the InGaAs MOSFET. A π phase shift of the InGaAsP optical modulator was obtained through the injection of a drain current from the InGaAs MOSFET with a gate voltage of approximately 1 V. This proof-of-concept demonstration of the monolithic integration of the InGaAsP optical modulator and InGaAs driver MOSFET will enable us to develop high-performance and low-power electronic-photonic integrated circuits on a III-V CMOS photonics platform.

Parallel Wavefront Analysis for a 4D Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rao, Shanti R.

2011-01-01

This software provides a programming interface for automating data collection with a PhaseCam interferometer from 4D Technology, and distributing the image-processing algorithm across a cluster of general-purpose computers. Multiple instances of 4Sight (4D Technology s proprietary software) run on a networked cluster of computers. Each connects to a single server (the controller) and waits for instructions. The controller directs the interferometer to several images, then assigns each image to a different computer for processing. When the image processing is finished, the server directs one of the computers to collate and combine the processed images, saving the resulting measurement in a file on a disk. The available software captures approximately 100 images and analyzes them immediately. This software separates the capture and analysis processes, so that analysis can be done at a different time and faster by running the algorithm in parallel across several processors. The PhaseCam family of interferometers can measure an optical system in milliseconds, but it takes many seconds to process the data so that it is usable. In characterizing an adaptive optics system, like the next generation of astronomical observatories, thousands of measurements are required, and the processing time quickly becomes excessive. A programming interface distributes data processing for a PhaseCam interferometer across a Windows computing cluster. A scriptable controller program coordinates data acquisition from the interferometer, storage on networked hard disks, and parallel processing. Idle time of the interferometer is minimized. This architecture is implemented in Python and JavaScript, and may be altered to fit a customer s needs.

Measuring of temperatures of phase objects using a point-diffraction interferometer plate made with the thermocavitation process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguilar, Juan C.; Berriel-Valdos, L. R.; Aguilar, J. Felix; Mejia-Romero, S.

An optical system formed by four point-diffraction interferometers is used for measuring the refractive index distribution of a phase object. The phase of the object is assumed enough smooth to be computed in terms of the Radon Transform and it is processed with a tomographic iterative algorithm. Then, the associated refractive index distribution is calculated. To recovery the phase from the inteferograms we use the Kreis method, which is useful for interferograms having only few fringes. As an application of our technique, the temperature distribution of a candle flame is retrieved, this was made with the aid of the Gladstone-Dale equation. We also describe the process of manufacturing the point-diffraction interferometer (PDI) plates. These were made by means of the thermocavitation process. The obtained three dimensional distribution of temperature is presented.

SPM interferometer with large range for mirco-vibration measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Mingyi; Tang, Chaowei; He, Guotian; Hu, Jun; Wang, Li

2007-12-01

The measuring range and precision are two inconsistent parameters of traditional optical interferometry. In this paper, the interferometer measuring vibration with high precision and large range is proposed and its measuring principle is analyzed in detail. The interferometer obtains phase information by processing interference signals with two real-time phase discriminator and the vibration displacement could be gotten by expanding this phase. The measuring range was enlarged from half wavelength to millimeter. Meanwhile, the measuring precision was independent of external disturbance and vibration displacement measurement with high precision was realized. The measuring range of vibration displacement for 6000.5nm and the repeatable measuring precision was 5.72nm from experiment. The feasibility of the measuring method was validated by experiments.

Long-term maintenance of the carrier-envelope phase coherence of a femtosecond laser.

PubMed

Kim, Eok Bong; Lee, Jae-Hwan; Lee, Won-Kyu; Luu, Tran Trung; Nam, Chang Hee

2010-12-06

The long-term carrier-envelope phase (CEP) coherence of a femtosecond laser with same pulse-to-pulse CEP value, obtained using the direct locking method, is demonstrated by employing a quasi-common-path interferometer (QPI). For the evaluation of the CEP stability, the phase noise properties of a femtosecond laser with the CEP stabilized using a QPI are compared with those obtained using a Mach-Zehnder f-2f interferometer, for which the phase power spectral density and the Allan deviation were calculated from the beat signals of the interferometers. With the improved CEP stability, the long-term CEP coherent signal with an accumulated phase noise well below 1 radian can be maintained for more than 56 hours, i.e., the CEP coherence is preserved without a phase cycle slip for more than 1.6 × 10(13) pulses at a repetition rate of 80 MHz. The relative stability is also estimated to be approximately 1.4 × 10(-22) at a central wavelength of 790 nm.

Two-path plasmonic interferometer with integrated detector

DOEpatents

Dyer, Gregory Conrad; Shaner, Eric A.; Aizin, Gregory

2016-03-29

An electrically tunable terahertz two-path plasmonic interferometer with an integrated detection element can down convert a terahertz field to a rectified DC signal. The integrated detector utilizes a resonant plasmonic homodyne mixing mechanism that measures the component of the plasma waves in-phase with an excitation field that functions as the local oscillator in the mixer. The plasmonic interferometer comprises two independently tuned electrical paths. The plasmonic interferometer enables a spectrometer-on-a-chip where the tuning of electrical path length plays an analogous role to that of physical path length in macroscopic Fourier transform interferometers.

Photoacoustic tomography using a Michelson interferometer with quadrature phase detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Speirs, Rory W.; Bishop, Alexis I.

2013-07-01

We present a pressure sensor based on a Michelson interferometer, for use in photoacoustic tomography. Quadrature phase detection is employed allowing measurement at any point on the mirror surface without having to retune the interferometer, as is typically required by Fabry-Perot type detectors. This opens the door to rapid full surface detection, which is necessary for clinical applications. Theory relating acoustic pressure to detected acoustic particle displacements is used to calculate the detector sensitivity, which is validated with measurement. Proof-of-concept tomographic images of blood vessel phantoms have been taken with sub-millimeter resolution at depths of several millimeters.

Phase-contrast microtomography using an X-ray interferometer having a 40-μm analyzer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momose, A.; Koyama, I.; Hamaishi, Y.; Yoshikawa, H.; Takeda, T.; Wu, J.; Itai, Y.; Takai, , K.; Uesugi, K.; Suzuki, Y.

2003-03-01

Phase-contrast X-ray tomographic experiment using a triple Laue-case (LLL) interferometer having a 40-μm lamella which was fabricated to improve spatial resolution, was carried out using undulator X-rays at SPring-8, Japan. Three-dimensional images mapping the refractive index were measured for various animal tissues. Comparing the images with those obtained in previous experiments using conventional LLL interferometers having a 1-mm lamella, improvement in the spatial resolution was demonstrated in that histological structures, such as hepatic lobules in liver and tubules in kidney, were revealed.

Fast phase stabilization of a low frequency beat note for atom interferometry.

PubMed

Oh, E; Horne, R A; Sackett, C A

2016-06-01

Atom interferometry experiments rely on the ability to obtain a stable signal that corresponds to an atomic phase. For interferometers that use laser beams to manipulate the atoms, noise in the lasers can lead to errors in the atomic measurement. In particular, it is often necessary to actively stabilize the optical phase between two frequency components of the beams. Typically this is achieved using a time-domain measurement of a beat note between the two frequencies. This becomes challenging when the frequency difference is small and the phase measurement must be made quickly. The method presented here instead uses a spatial interference detection to rapidly measure the optical phase for arbitrary frequency differences. A feedback system operating at a bandwidth of about 10 MHz could then correct the phase in about 3 μs. This time is short enough that the phase correction could be applied at the start of a laser pulse without appreciably degrading the fidelity of the atom interferometer operation. The phase stabilization system was demonstrated in a simple atom interferometer measurement of the (87)Rb recoil frequency.

High-resolution and high-throughput multichannel Fourier transform spectrometer with two-dimensional interferogram warping compensation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, A.; Furukawa, H.

2018-04-01

The resolution of multichannel Fourier transform (McFT) spectroscopy is insufficient for many applications despite its extreme advantage of high throughput. We propose an improved configuration to realise both performance using a two-dimensional area sensor. For the spectral resolution, we obtained the interferogram of a larger optical path difference by shifting the area sensor without altering any optical components. The non-linear phase error of the interferometer was successfully corrected using a phase-compensation calculation. Warping compensation was also applied to realise a higher throughput to accumulate the signal between vertical pixels. Our approach significantly improved the resolution and signal-to-noise ratio by factors of 1.7 and 34, respectively. This high-resolution and high-sensitivity McFT spectrometer will be useful for detecting weak light signals such as those in non-invasive diagnosis.

All-optical XOR logic gate using intersubband transition in III-V quantum well materials.

PubMed

Feng, Jijun; Akimoto, Ryoichi; Gozu, Shin-ichiro; Mozume, Teruo

2014-06-02

A monolithically integrated all-optical exclusive-OR (XOR) logic gate is experimentally demonstrated based on a Michelson interferometer (MI) gating device in InGaAs/AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells (CDQWs). The MI arms can convert the pump data with return-to-zero ON-OFF keying (RZ OOK) to binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) format, then two BPSK signals can interfere with each other for realizing a desired logical operation. All-optical format conversion from the RZ OOK to BPSK is based on the cross-phase modulation to the transverse electric (TE) probe wave, which is caused by the intersubband transition excited by the transverse magnetic (TM) pump light. Bit error rate measurements show that error free operation for both BPSK format conversion and XOR logical operation can be achieved.

A combined phase contrast imaging-interferometer system for the detection of multiscale density fluctuations on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, E. M.; Rost, J. C.; Porkolab, M.; Marinoni, A.; van Zeeland, M. A.

2016-10-01

A heterodyne interferometer channel has been added to the DIII-D phase contrast imaging (PCI) system. Both measurements share a single 10.6 μm probe beam. Whereas the PCI excels at detecting medium- to high- k fluctuations (1.5 cm-1 <= k <= 20 cm-1), the interferometer extends the system sensitivity to low- k fluctuations (k <= 5 cm-1), allowing simultaneous measurement of electron- and ion-scale instabilities with sub-microsecond resolution. Further, correlating measurements from the interferometer channel with those from DIII-D's pre-existing, toroidally separated interferometer (Δ∅ = 45°) allows identification of low- n modes. This new capability has been corroborated against magnetic measurements and may allow novel investigations of core - localized MHD that is otherwise inaccessible via external magnetic measurements, with potential applications to fast particle transport and disruptions. Work supported by USDOE under DE-FG02-94ER54235, DE-FC02-04ER54698, and DE-FC02-99ER54512.

A refractive index sensor based on taper Michelson interferometer in multimode fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Xinghu; Zhang, Jiangpeng; Wang, Siwen; Fu, Guangwei; Liu, Qiang; Jin, Wa; Bi, Weihong

2016-11-01

A refractive index sensor based on taper Michelson interferometer in multimode fiber is proposed. The Hydrofluoric acid corrosion processing is studied in the preparation of single cone multimode optical fiber sensor. The taper Michelson interferometer is fabricated by changing corrosion time. The relationship between fiber sensor feature and corrosion time is analyzed. The experimental results show that the interference spectrum shift in the direction of short wave with the increase of the refractive index. The refractive index sensitivity can reach 115.8008 nm/RIU. Thereby, it can be used in detecting the refractive index in different areas including the environmental protection, health care and food production.

High sensitivity boundary layer transition detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Azzazy, M.; Modarress, D.; Hoeft, T.

1985-01-01

A high sensitivity differential interferometer has been developed to locate the region where the boundary layer flow changes from laminar to turbulent. Two experimental configurations have been used to evaluate the performance of the interferometer, open shear layer configuration and wind tunnel turbulent spot configuration. In each experiment small temperature fluctuations were introduced as the signal source. Simultaneous cold wire measurements have been compared with the interferometer data. The comparison shows that the interferometer is sensitive to very weak phase variations in the order of .001 the laser wavelength.

Interferometer-Based Calorimetric Measurements of Absorbed Dose to Water in External Beam Radiotherapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flores-Martinez, Everardo

Calorimetry is often used to establish high-energy photon absorbed dose to water (ADW) primary standards as calorimetry is a direct measurement of the energy imparted to the water by ionizing radiation. Current calorimeters use thermistors to establish national standards but there is the possibility of systematic errors in these instruments because thermistors overheat due to their low heat capacity. For this reason, there has been renewed interest in using alternative temperature measurement techniques, especially those that do not require a mechanical probe. Interferometer-based thermometry is a technique that exploits the temperature dependence of the refractive index of water and can be used as an alternative method for temperature measurement in radiation calorimetry. A distinctive advantage of the use of interferometry for radiation calorimetry is the capability of obtaining 2D or 3D temperature/dose distributions. Compared to thermistor-based measurements, the use of interferometer-based ADW measurements has been limited by the low measurement resolution. Optimized setups with higher accuracy and precision are necessary to perform measurements at clinically relevant dose rates. A calorimeter for thermistor-based ADW measurements was developed. The instrument was used to measure thermal drifts and noise were measured using the instrument in a water phantom. Residual thermal drifts were accounted for by using a three-step measurement protocol. Additionally, the instrument was used to measure ADW from a 6MV photon beam from a medical linear accelerator. A Michelson-type interferometer was built, characterized, and placed inside the calorimeter with the water phantom at the reference arm. Interferometer and phantom temperature fluctuations were minimized by means of the passive thermal control provide by the calorimeter enclosure, leading to increased fringe pattern stability. The interferometer characterization included phase shift measurements induced by displacing a piezoelectric transducer. Measurements were compared with calculations to estimate the accuracy of the technique. The interferometer-based system was used to measure ADW in a water-filled glass phantom, irradiated with a 6MV photon beam. The estimated Type-A, (k = 1) uncertainty in the associated doses was about 0.3Gy, which is an order of magnitude lower than previously published interferometer-based ADW measurements. Additionally a comparative analysis was performed with the thermistor-based measurements, results for both techniques agreed within the uncertainty. This work presents the first absolute ADW measurements performed using interferometry in the dose range of linac-based radiotherapy and represents a significant step towards standards-level measurements using this technique.

Quantum Noise Reduction with Pulsed Light in Optical Fibers.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergman, Keren

Optical fibers offer considerable advantages over bulk nonlinear media for the generation of squeezed states. This thesis reports on experimental investigations of reducing quantum noise by means of squeezing in nonlinear fiber optic interferometers. Fibers have low insertion loss which allows for long interaction lengths. High field intensities are easily achieved in the small cores of single mode fibers. Additionally, the nonlinear process employed is self phase modulation or the Kerr effect, whose broad band nature requires no phase matching and can be exploited with ultra-short pulses of high peak intensity. All these advantageous features of fibers result in easily obtained large nonlinear phase shifts and subsequently large squeezing parameters. By the self phase modulation process a correlation is produced between the phase and amplitude fluctuations of the optical field. The attenuated or squeezed quadrature has a lower noise level than the initial level associated with the coherent state field before propagation. The resulting reduced quantum noise quadrature can be utilized to improve the sensitivity of a phase measuring instrument such as an interferometer. Because the Kerr nonlinearity is a degenerate self pumping process, the squeezed noise is at the same frequency as the pump field. Classical pump noise can therefore interfere with the desired measurement of the quantum noise reduction. The most severe noise process is the phase noise caused by thermally induced index modulation of the fiber. This noise termed Guided Acoustic Wave Brillouin Scattering, or GAWBS, by previous researchers is studied and analyzed. Experiments performed to overcome GAWBS successfully with several schemes are described. An experimental demonstration of an interferometric measurement with better sensitivity than the standard quantum limit is described. The results lead to new understandings into the limitations of quantum noise reduction that can be achieved in the laboratory. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.).

Analysis of dynamic channel power equalization by using nonlinear amplifying Sagnac interferometer for ASK-WDM optical transmission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qu, Feng; Liu, Xiaoming; Zhao, Jianhui

2004-05-01

A power equalization using an asymmetric nonlinear amplifying Sagnac interferometer (NASI) for ASK modulation is studied numerically. A nonreciprocal phase bias was proposed to be introduced into the structure. The nonreciprocal phase bias reduces not only the demanding for amplifier power or fiber non-linearity, but also increase the dynamic input power range. The power equalization is demonstrated for RZ modulation by nonlinear phase analysis and eye diagram simulation.

Tilt sensor based on intermodal photonic crystal fiber interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiaotong; Ni, Kai; Zhao, Chunliu; Ye, Manping; Jin, Yongxing

2014-09-01

A tilt sensor based on an intermodal photonic crystal fiber (PCF) interferometer is demonstrated. The sensor consists of a tubular filled with NaCl aqueous solutions and an intermodal PCF interferometer, which is formed by using a short PCF with two single-mode fibers (SMFs) spliced at both ends, and the air-holes in the splice regions are fully collapsed. The intermodal PCF interferometer is fixed in a rigid glass tubular with a slant orientation, and a half of the PCF is immersed in the NaCl aqueous solutions, while the other half is exposed in air. When tilting the tubular, the length of the PCF immersed changes so that the transmission spectrum moves. Therefore, by monitoring the wavelength shift, the tilt angle can be achieved. In the experiment, a 0.8-cm-length intermodal PCF interferometer was adopted. The sensitivity of the proposed sensor was obtained from -1.5461 nm/° to -30.1244 nm/° when measuring from -35.1° to 37.05°.

Phase-sensitive reflection technique for characterization of a fabry-perot interferometer.

PubMed

Slagmolen, B J; Gray, M B; Baigent, K G; McClelland, D E

2000-07-20

Using a radio frequency coherent modulation and demodulation technique, we explicitly measure both the amplitude and the phase response of Fabry-Perot interferometers in reflection. This allows us to differentiate clearly between overcoupled and undercoupled cavities and allows a detailed measurement of the full width at half-maximum, the free spectral range, and the finesse of the cavities.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oh, E.; Horne, R. A.; Sackett, C. A., E-mail: sackett@virginia.edu

Atom interferometry experiments rely on the ability to obtain a stable signal that corresponds to an atomic phase. For interferometers that use laser beams to manipulate the atoms, noise in the lasers can lead to errors in the atomic measurement. In particular, it is often necessary to actively stabilize the optical phase between two frequency components of the beams. Typically this is achieved using a time-domain measurement of a beat note between the two frequencies. This becomes challenging when the frequency difference is small and the phase measurement must be made quickly. The method presented here instead uses a spatialmore » interference detection to rapidly measure the optical phase for arbitrary frequency differences. A feedback system operating at a bandwidth of about 10 MHz could then correct the phase in about 3 μs. This time is short enough that the phase correction could be applied at the start of a laser pulse without appreciably degrading the fidelity of the atom interferometer operation. The phase stabilization system was demonstrated in a simple atom interferometer measurement of the {sup 87}Rb recoil frequency.« less

Optically phase-locked electronic speckle pattern interferometer system performance for vibration measurement in random displacement fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moran, Steve E.; Lugannani, Robert; Craig, Peter N.; Law, Robert L.

1989-02-01

An analysis is made of the performance of an optically phase-locked electronic speckle pattern interferometer in the presence of random noise displacements. Expressions for the phase-locked speckle contrast for single-frame imagery and the composite rms exposure for two sequentially subtracted frames are obtained in terms of the phase-locked composite and single-frame fringe functions. The noise fringe functions are evaluated for stationary, coherence-separable noise displacements obeying Gauss-Markov temporal statistics. The theoretical findings presented here are qualitatively supported by experimental results.

Phase-sensitive terahertz spectroscopy with backward-wave oscillators in reflection mode.

PubMed

Pronin, A V; Goncharov, Yu G; Fischer, T; Wosnitza, J

2009-12-01

In this article we describe a method which allows accurate measurements of the complex reflection coefficient r = absolute value(r) x exp(i phi(R)) of a solid at frequencies of 1-50 cm(-1) (30 GHz-1.5 THz). Backward-wave oscillators are used as sources for monochromatic coherent radiation tunable in frequency. The amplitude of the complex reflection (the reflectivity) is measured in a standard way, while the phase shift, introduced by the reflection from the sample surface, is measured using a Michelson interferometer. This method is particular useful for nontransparent samples, where phase-sensitive transmission measurements are not possible. The method requires no Kramers-Kronig transformation in order to extract the sample's electrodynamic properties (such as the complex dielectric function or complex conductivity). Another area of application of this method is the study of magnetic materials with complex dynamic permeabilities different from unity at the measurement frequencies (for example, colossal-magnetoresistance materials and metamaterials). Measuring both the phase-sensitive transmission and the phase-sensitive reflection allows for a straightforward model-independent determination of the dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability of such materials.

Phase-sensitive terahertz spectroscopy with backward-wave oscillators in reflection mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pronin, A. V.; Goncharov, Yu. G.; Fischer, T.; Wosnitza, J.

2009-12-01

In this article we describe a method which allows accurate measurements of the complex reflection coefficient r̂=|r̂|ṡexp(iφR) of a solid at frequencies of 1-50 cm-1 (30 GHz-1.5 THz). Backward-wave oscillators are used as sources for monochromatic coherent radiation tunable in frequency. The amplitude of the complex reflection (the reflectivity) is measured in a standard way, while the phase shift, introduced by the reflection from the sample surface, is measured using a Michelson interferometer. This method is particular useful for nontransparent samples, where phase-sensitive transmission measurements are not possible. The method requires no Kramers-Kronig transformation in order to extract the sample's electrodynamic properties (such as the complex dielectric function or complex conductivity). Another area of application of this method is the study of magnetic materials with complex dynamic permeabilities different from unity at the measurement frequencies (for example, colossal-magnetoresistance materials and metamaterials). Measuring both the phase-sensitive transmission and the phase-sensitive reflection allows for a straightforward model-independent determination of the dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability of such materials.

Monitoring in-vitro bovine embryo development during the first days after fertilization (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kandel, Mikhail E.; Rubessa, Marcello; Fernandes, Daniel; Nguyen, Tan H.; Wheeler, Matthew B.; Popescu, Gabriel

2016-03-01

Conventional label-based contrast enhancement techniques (e.g., fluorescence) frequently modify the genetic makeup of tagged cells, making them poor candidates for use in in-vitro fertilization applications. Instead, we choose a label-free form of contrast, based on interferometric imaging, sensitive to optical path length differences. Compared to, single HeLa cells, typical mammalian ova and embryos are more than an order of magnitude thicker. As a result, regions of large phase variation lead to phase wrapping and an overall reduction in signal intensity occurs due to multiple scattering. These effects manifest themselves in low-spatial frequencies (blurs), with the desired details buried in the background. We present a phase shifting interferometer that yields the derivative of the phase, a quantity whose value is particularly sensitive to local variations and fine details. We demonstrate that our new real-time imaging platform is valuable in measuring the multiday development of bovine embryos. Reconstructing the derivative of the image phase and amplitude, we characterize the motion of previously low-contrast structures, which are relevant for embryo viability tests.

Chemical micro-sensor

DOEpatents

Ruggiero, Anthony J.

2005-05-03

An integrated optical capillary electrophoresis system for analyzing an analyte. A modulated optical pump beam impinges on an capillary containing the analyte/buffer solution which is separated by electrophoresis. The thermally-induced change in the index of refraction of light in said electrophoresis capillary is monitored using an integrated micro-interferometer. The interferometer includes a first interferometer arm intersecting the electrophoresis capillary proximate the excitation beam and a second, reference interferometer arm. Changes in index of refraction in the analyte measured by interrogating the interferometer state using white light interferometry and a phase-generated carrier demodulation technique. Background thermo-optical activity in the buffer solution is cancelled by splitting the pump beam and exciting pure buffer solution in a second section of capillary where it crosses the reference arm of the interferometer.

All-optical phase modulation in a cavity-polariton Mach–Zehnder interferometer

PubMed Central

Sturm, C.; Tanese, D.; Nguyen, H.S.; Flayac, H.; Galopin, E.; Lemaître, A.; Sagnes, I.; Solnyshkov, D.; Amo, A.; Malpuech, G.; Bloch, J.

2014-01-01

Quantum fluids based on light is a highly developing research field, since they provide a nonlinear platform for developing optical functionalities and quantum simulators. An important issue in this context is the ability to coherently control the properties of the fluid. Here we propose an all-optical approach for controlling the phase of a flow of cavity-polaritons, making use of their strong interactions with localized excitons. Here we illustrate the potential of this method by implementing a compact exciton–polariton interferometer, which output intensity and polarization can be optically controlled. This interferometer is cascadable with already reported polariton devices and is promising for future polaritonic quantum optic experiments. Complex phase patterns could be also engineered using this optical method, providing a key tool to build photonic artificial gauge fields. PMID:24513781

Research on the phase adjustment method for dispersion interferometer on HL-2A tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tongyu, WU; Wei, ZHANG; Haoxi, WANG; Yan, ZHOU; Zejie, YIN

2018-06-01

A synchronous demodulation system is proposed and deployed for CO2 dispersion interferometer on HL-2A, which aims at high plasma density measurements and real-time feedback control. In order to make sure that the demodulator and the interferometer signal are synchronous in phase, a phase adjustment (PA) method has been developed for the demodulation system. The method takes advantages of the field programmable gate array parallel and pipeline process capabilities to carry out high performance and low latency PA. Some experimental results presented show that the PA method is crucial to the synchronous demodulation system and reliable to follow the fast change of the electron density. The system can measure the line-integrated density with a high precision of 2.0 × 1018 m‑2.

A tension insensitive PbS fiber temperature sensor based on Sagnac interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Xing-hu; Zhang, Jiang-peng; Yang, Kai-li; Dong, Yan-hua; Wen, Jian-xiang; Fu, Guang-wei; Bi, Wei-hong

2017-03-01

In this paper, a tension insensitive PbS fiber temperature sensor based on Sagnac interferometer is proposed and demonstrated. The sensing mechanism of tension and temperature is analyzed. The relationships between the interference spectrum, temperature and tension are analyzed, respectively. The experimental temperature range is 36—70 °C. The experimental results show that the interference spectrum is red shifted, and its sensitivity is 53.89 pm/°C. In tension experiment, the tension range is 0—1 400 μɛ. The experimental results show that there is no wavelength shift in the interference spectrum. The sensor is immune to tension cross-sensitivity compared with other sensors. It can be used for temperature testing in aerospace, chemistry and pharmacy.

A technique for phase correction in Fourier transform spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Artsang, P.; Pongchalee, P.; Palawong, K.; Buisset, C.; Meemon, P.

2018-03-01

Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTS) is a type of spectroscopy that can be used to analyze components in the sample. The basic setup that is commonly used in this technique is "Michelson interferometer". The interference signal obtained from interferometer can be Fourier transformed into the spectral pattern of the illuminating light source. To experimentally study the concept of the Fourier transform spectroscopy, the project started by setup the Michelson interferometer in the laboratory. The implemented system used a broadband light source in near infrared region (0.81-0.89 μm) and controlled the movable mirror by using computer controlled motorized translation stage. In the early study, there is no sample the interference path. Therefore, the theoretical spectral results after the Fourier transformation of the captured interferogram must be the spectral shape of the light source. One main challenge of the FTS is to retrieve the correct phase information of the inferferogram that relates with the correct spectral shape of the light source. One main source of the phase distortion in FTS that we observed from our system is the non-linear movement of the movable reference mirror of the Michelson interferometer. Therefore, to improve the result, we coupled a monochromatic light source to the implemented interferometer. We simultaneously measured the interferograms of the monochromatic and broadband light sources. The interferogram of the monochromatic light source was used to correct the phase of the interferogram of the broadband light source. The result shows significant improvement in the computed spectral shape.

Experimental research on the feature of an x-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer versus tube accelerating voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Sheng-Hao; Margie, P. Olbinado; Atsushi, Momose; Hua-Jie, Han; Hu, Ren-Fang; Wang, Zhi-Li; Gao, Kun; Zhang, Kai; Zhu, Pei-Ping; Wu, Zi-Yu

2015-06-01

X-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer has been used most widely to perform x-ray phase-contrast imaging with a conventional low-brilliance x-ray source, and it yields high-sensitivity phase and dark-field images of samples producing low absorption contrast, thus bearing tremendous potential for future clinical diagnosis. In this work, by changing the accelerating voltage of the x-ray tube from 35 kV to 45 kV, x-ray phase-contrast imaging of a test sample is performed at each integer value of the accelerating voltage to investigate the characteristic of an x-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer (located in the Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, Japan) versus tube voltage. Experimental results and data analysis show that within a range this x-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer is not sensitive to the accelerating voltage of the tube with a constant fringe visibility of ˜ 44%. This x-ray Talbot-Lau interferometer research demonstrates the feasibility of a new dual energy phase-contrast x-ray imaging strategy and the possibility to collect a refraction spectrum. Project supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (Grant No. 2012CB825800), the Science Fund for Creative Research Groups, China (Grant No. 11321503), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11179004, 10979055, 11205189, and 11205157), and the Japan-Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science (SAKURA Exchange Program in Science) Administered by the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

Manipulation of Micro Scale Particles in an Optical Trap Using Interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seibel, Robin

2002-01-01

This research shows that micro particles can be manipulated via interferometric patterns superimposed on an optical tweezers beam. Interferometry allows the manipulation of intensity distributions, and thus, force distributions on a trapped particle. To demonstrate the feasibility of such manipulation, 458 nm light, from an argon-ion laser, was injected into a Mach Zender interferometer. One mirror in the interferometer was oscillated with a piezoelectric phase modulator. The light from the interferometer was then injected into a microscope to trap a 9.75 micron polystyrene sphere. By varying the phase modulation, the sphere was made to oscillate in a controlled fashion.

Ultra-sensitive wide dynamic range temperature sensor based on in-fiber Lyot interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikbakht, Hamed; Poorghdiri Isfahani, Mohamad Hosein; Latifi, Hamid

2017-04-01

An in-fiber Lyot interferometer for temperature measurement is presented. The sensor utilizes high temperature-dependence of the birefringence in Panda polarization maintaining fibers to achieve high resolution in temperature measurements. Temperature variation modulates the phase difference between the polarization modes propagating in different modes of the Panda fiber. The Lyot interferometer produces a spectrum which varies with the phase difference. Therefore, by monitoring this spectrum a high resolution of 0.003°C was achieved. A fiber Bragg grating is added to the setup to expand its dynamic range. This sensor does not need complicated fabrication process and can be implemented in many applications.

Simultaneous interrogation of interferometric and Bragg grating sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brady, G.; Kalli, K.; Webb, D. J.; Jackson, D. A.; Reekie, L.; Archambault, J. L.

1995-06-01

We propose a new method for the simultaneous interrogation of conventional two-beam interferometers and Bragg grating sensors. The technique employs an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer illuminated by a single low-coherence source, which acts as a wavelength-tunable source for the grating and as a path-matched filter for the Fizeau interferometer, thus providing a high phase resolution output for each sensor. The grating sensor demonstrates a dynamic strain resolution of \\similar 0.05 mu 3 / \\radical Hz \\end-radical at 20 Hz, while the interferometric phase resolution is better than 1mrad/ \\radical Hz \\end-radical at 20 Hz, corresponding to an rms mirror displacement of 0.08 nm.

Picometer Level Modeling of a Shared Vertex Double Corner Cube in the Space Interferometry Mission Kite Testbed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuan, Gary M.; Dekens, Frank G.

2006-01-01

The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) is a microarcsecond interferometric space telescope that requires picometer level precision measurements of its truss and interferometer baselines. Single-gauge metrology errors due to non-ideal physical characteristics of corner cubes reduce the angular measurement capability of the science instrument. Specifically, the non-common vertex error (NCVE) of a shared vertex, double corner cube introduces micrometer level single-gauge errors in addition to errors due to dihedral angles and reflection phase shifts. A modified SIM Kite Testbed containing an articulating double corner cube is modeled and the results are compared to the experimental testbed data. The results confirm modeling capability and viability of calibration techniques.

Operation Program for the Spatially Phase-Shifted Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometer - SPS-DSPI

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blake, Peter N.; Jones, Joycelyn T.; Hostetter, Carl F.; Greenfield, Perry; Miller, Todd

2010-01-01

SPS-DSPI software has been revised so that Goddard optical engineers can operate the instrument, instead of data programmers. The user interface has been improved to view the data collected by the SPS-DSPI, with a real-time mode and a play-back mode. The SPS-DSPI has been developed by NASA/GSFC to measure the temperature distortions of the primary-mirror backplane structure for the James Webb Space Telescope. It requires a team of computer specialists to run successfully, because, at the time of this reporting, it just finished the prototype stage. This software improvement will transition the instrument to become available for use by many programs that measure distortion

Optical Distortion Evaluation in Large Area Windows using Interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Youngquist, Robert C.; Skow, Miles; Nurge, Mark A.

2015-01-01

It is important that imagery seen through large area windows, such as those used on space vehicles, not be substantially distorted. Many approaches are described in the literature for measuring the distortion of an optical window, but most suffer from either poor resolution or processing difficulties. In this paper a new definition of distortion is presented, allowing accurate measurement using an optical interferometer. This new definition is shown to be equivalent to the definitions provided by the military and the standards organizations. In order to determine the advantages and disadvantages of this new approach the distortion of an acrylic window is measured using three different methods; image comparison, Moiré interferometry, and phase-shifting interferometry.

A Comparison of Three Methods for Measuring Distortion in Optical Windows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Youngquist, Robert C.; Nurge, Mark A.; Skow, Miles

2015-01-01

It's important that imagery seen through large-area windows, such as those used on space vehicles, not be substantially distorted. Many approaches are described in the literature for measuring the distortion of an optical window, but most suffer from either poor resolution or processing difficulties. In this paper a new definition of distortion is presented, allowing accurate measurement using an optical interferometer. This new definition is shown to be equivalent to the definitions provided by the military and the standards organizations. In order to determine the advantages and disadvantages of this new approach, the distortion of an acrylic window is measured using three different methods: image comparison, moiré interferometry, and phase-shifting interferometry.

Mitigation of Angle Tracking Errors Due to Color Dependent Centroid Shifts in SIM-Lite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nemati, Bijan; An, Xin; Goullioud, Renaud; Shao, Michael; Shen, Tsae-Pyng; Wehmeier, Udo J.; Weilert, Mark A.; Wang, Xu; Werne, Thomas A.; Wu, Janet P.;

Far-field interference of a neutron white beam and the applications to noninvasive phase-contrast imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pushin, D. A.; Sarenac, D.; Hussey, D. S.; Miao, H.; Arif, M.; Cory, D. G.; Huber, M. G.; Jacobson, D. L.; LaManna, J. M.; Parker, J. D.; Shinohara, T.; Ueno, W.; Wen, H.

2017-04-01

The phenomenon of interference plays a crucial role in the field of precision measurement science. Wave-particle duality has expanded the well-known interference effects of electromagnetic waves to massive particles. The majority of the wave-particle interference experiments require a near monochromatic beam which limits its applications due to the resulting low intensity. Here we demonstrate white beam interference in the far-field regime using a two-phase-grating neutron interferometer and its application to phase-contrast imaging. The functionality of this interferometer is based on the universal moiré effect that allows us to improve upon the standard Lau setup. Interference fringes were observed with monochromatic and polychromatic neutron beams for both continuous and pulsed beams. Far-field neutron interferometry allows for the full utilization of intense neutron sources for precision measurements of gradient fields. It also overcomes the alignment, stability, and fabrication challenges associated with the more familiar perfect-crystal neutron interferometer, as well as avoids the loss of intensity due to the absorption analyzer grating requirement in Talbot-Lau interferometer.

Static and dynamic micro deformable mirror characterization by phase-shifting and time-averaged interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liotard, Arnaud; Zamkotsian, Frédéric

2017-11-01

The micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS), based on mature technologies of micro-electronics, are essential in the design of future astronomical instruments. One of these key-components is the microdeformable mirror for wave-front correction. Very challenging topics like search of exo-planets could greatly benefit from this technology. Design, realization and characterization of micro-Deformable Mirrors are under way at Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille (LAM) in collaboration with Laboratoire d'Analyse et d'Architecture des Systèmes (LAAS). In order to measure the surface shape and the deformation parameters during operation of these devices, a high-resolution Twyman-Green interferometer has been developed. Measurements have been done on a tiltable micro-mirror (170*100μm2) designed by LAM-LAAS and realized by an American foundry, and also on an OKO deformable mirror (15mm diameter). Static characterization is made by phase shifting interferometry and dynamic measurements have been made by quantitative time-averaged interferometry. The OKO mirror has an actuator stroke of 370+/-10nm for 150V applied and its resonant frequency is 1170+/-50 Hz, and the tiltable mirror has a rotation cut-off frequency of 31+/-3 kHz.

Interferometric interrogation of π-phase shifted fiber Bragg grating sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, Deepa; Tiwari, Umesh; Das, Bhargab

2018-03-01

Interferometric interrogation technique realized for conventional fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors is historically known to offer the highest sensitivity measurements, however, it has not been yet explored for π-phase-shifted FBG (πFBG) sensors. This, we believe, is due to the complex nature of the reflection/transmission spectrum of a πFBG, which cannot be directly used for interferometric interrogation purpose. Therefore, we propose here an innovative as well as simple concept towards this direction, wherein, the transmission spectrum of a πFBG sensor is optically filtered using a specially designed fiber grating. The resulting filtered spectrum retains the entire characteristics of a πFBG sensor and hence the filtered spectrum can be interrogated with interferometric principles. Furthermore, due to the extremely narrow transmission notch of a πFBG sensor, a fiber interferometer can be realized with significantly longer path difference. This leads to substantially enhanced detection limit as compared to sensors based on a regular FBG of similar length. Theoretical analysis demonstrates that high resolution weak dynamic strain measurement down to 4 pε /√{ Hz } is easily achievable. Preliminary experimental results are also presented as proof-of-concept of the proposed interrogation principle.

Multipath induced errors in meteorological Doppler/interferometer location systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wallace, R. G.

1984-01-01

One application of an RF interferometer aboard a low-orbiting spacecraft to determine the location of ground-based transmitters is in tracking high-altitude balloons for meteorological studies. A source of error in this application is reflection of the signal from the sea surface. Through propagating and signal analysis, the magnitude of the reflection-induced error in both Doppler frequency measurements and interferometer phase measurements was estimated. The theory of diffuse scattering from random surfaces was applied to obtain the power spectral density of the reflected signal. The processing of the combined direct and reflected signals was then analyzed to find the statistics of the measurement error. It was found that the error varies greatly during the satellite overpass and attains its maximum value at closest approach. The maximum values of interferometer phase error and Doppler frequency error found for the system configuration considered were comparable to thermal noise-induced error.

A phase contrast imaging–interferometer system for detection of multiscale electron density fluctuations on DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Davis, E. M.; Rost, J. C.; Porkolab, M.; ...

2016-08-15

Heterodyne interferometry and phase contrast imaging (PCI) are robust, mature techniques for measuring low-k and high-k electron density fluctuations, respectively. Here, we describe the first-ever implementation of a combined PCI-interferometer. The combined system uses a single 10:6 μm probe beam, two interference schemes, and two detectors to measure electron density uctuations at large spatiotemporal bandwidth (10 kHz < f < 5MHz and 0 cm -1 ≤ k ≤ 20 cm -1), allowing simultaneous measurement of ion- and electron-scale instabilities. Further, correlating our interferometer's measurements with those from DIII-D's pre-existing, toroidally separated interferometer allows core-localized, low-n MHD studies that may otherwisemore » be inaccessible via external magnetic measurements. In the combined diagnostic's small port requirements and minimal access restrictions make it well-suited to the harsh neutron environments and limited port space expected in next-step devices.« less

A phase contrast imaging-interferometer system for detection of multiscale electron density fluctuations on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, E. M.; Rost, J. C.; Porkolab, M.; Marinoni, A.; Van Zeeland, M. A.

2016-11-01

Heterodyne interferometry and phase contrast imaging (PCI) are robust, mature techniques for measuring low-k and high-k electron density fluctuations, respectively. This work describes the first-ever implementation of a combined PCI-interferometer. The combined system uses a single 10.6 μm probe beam, two interference schemes, and two detectors to measure electron density fluctuations at large spatiotemporal bandwidth (10 kHz

Squeezing on Momentum States for Atom Interferometry.

PubMed

Salvi, Leonardo; Poli, Nicola; Vuletić, Vladan; Tino, Guglielmo M

2018-01-19

We propose and analyze a method that allows for the production of squeezed states of the atomic center-of-mass motion that can be injected into an atom interferometer. Our scheme employs dispersive probing in a ring resonator on a narrow transition in order to provide a collective measurement of the relative population of two momentum states. We show that this method is applicable to a Bragg diffraction-based strontium atom interferometer with large diffraction orders. This technique can be extended also to small diffraction orders and large atom numbers N by inducing atomic transparency at the frequency of the probe field, reaching an interferometer phase resolution scaling Δϕ∼N^{-3/4}. We show that for realistic parameters it is possible to obtain a 20 dB gain in interferometer phase estimation compared to the standard quantum limit. Our method is applicable to other atomic species where a narrow transition is available or can be synthesized.

Registering upper atmosphere parameters in East Siberia with Fabry—Perot Interferometer KEO Scientific "Arinae"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasilyev, Roman; Artamonov, Maksim; Beletsky, Aleksandr; Zherebtsov, Geliy; Medvedeva, Irina; Mikhalev, Aleksandr; Syrenova, Tatyana

2017-09-01

We describe the Fabry–Perot interferometer designed to study Earth’s upper atmosphere. We propose a modification of the existing data processing method for determining the Doppler shift and Doppler widening and also for separating the observed line intensity and the background intensity. The temperature and wind velocity derived from these parameters are compared with physical characteristics obtained from modeling (NRLMSISE-00, HWM14). We demonstrate that the temperature is determined from the oxygen 630 nm line irrespective of the hydroxyl signal existing in interference patterns. We show that the interferometer can obtain temperature from the oxygen 557.7 nm line in case of additional calibration of the device. The observed wind velocity mainly agrees with model data. Night variations in the red and green oxygen lines quite well coincide with those in intensities obtained by devices installed nearby the interferometer.

Vacuum birefringence detection in all-optical scenarios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ataman, Stefan

2018-06-01

In this paper we propose an all-optical vacuum birefringence experiment and evaluate its feasibility for various scenarios. Many petawatt-class lasers became operational and many more are expected to enter operation in the near future, therefore unprecedented electromagnetic fields (EL˜1014-1015 V/m and intensities IL˜1021-1023W/cm 2 ) will become available for experiments. In our proposal a petawatt-class laser disturbs the quantum vacuum and creates a delay in a counterpropagating probe laser beam. Placing this delayed beam in one arm of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), allows the measurement of the vacuum refraction coefficient via a phase shift. Coherent as well as squeezed light are both considered and the minimum phase sensitivity evaluated. We show that using existing technology with some moderately optimistic assumptions, at least part of the discussed scenarios are feasible for a vacuum birefringence detection experiment.

Surface characterization and testing II; Proceedings of the Meeting, San Diego, CA, Aug. 10, 11, 1989

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greivenkamp, John E. (Editor); Young, Matt (Editor)

1989-01-01

Various papers on surface characterization and testing are presented. Individual topics addressed include: simple Hartmann test data interpretation, optimum configuration of the Offner null corrector, system for phase-shifting interferometry in the presence of vibration, fringe variation and visibility in speckle-shearing interferometry, functional integral representation of rough surfaces, calibration of surface heights in an interferometric optical profiler, image formation in common path differential profilometers, SEM of optical surfaces, measuring surface profiles with scanning tunneling microscopes, surface profile measurements of curved parts, high-resolution optical profiler, scanning heterodyne interferometer with immunity from microphonics, real-time crystal axis measurements of semiconductor materials, radial metrology with a panoramic annular lens, surface analysis for the characterization of defects in thin-film processes, Spacelab Optical Viewport glass assembly optical test program for the Starlab mission, scanning differential intensity and phase system for optical metrology.

Which role does multiphoton interference play in small phase estimation in quantum Fourier transform interferometers?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmermann, Olaf; Tamma, Vincenzo

Recently, quantum Fourier transform interferometers have been demonstrated to allow a quantum metrological enhancement in phase sensitivity for a small number n of identical input single photons [J. P. Olson, K. R. Motes, P. M. Birchall, N. M. Studer, M. LaBorde, T. Moulder, P. P. Rohde and J. P. Dowling, Phys. Rev. A 96 (2017) 013810; K. R. Motes, J. P. Olson, E. J. Rabeaux, J. P. Dowling, S. J. Olson and P. P. Rohde, Phys. Rev. Lett. 114 (2015) 170802; O. Zimmermann, Bachelor Thesis (Ulm University, 2015) arXiv: 1710.03805.]. However, multiphoton distinguishability at the detectors can play an important role from an experimental point of view [V. Tamma and S. Laibacher, Phys. Rev. Lett. 114 (2015) 243601.]. This raises a fundamental question: How is the phase sensitivity affected when the photons are completely distinguishable at the detectors and therefore do not interfere? In other words, which role does multiphoton interference play in these schemes? Here, we show that for small phase values, the phase sensitivity achievable in the proposed schemes with indistinguishable photons is enhanced only by a constant factor with respect to the case of completely distinguishable photons at the detectors. Interestingly, this enhancement arises from the interference of only a polynomial number (in n) of the total n! multiphoton path amplitudes in the n-port interferometer. These results are independent of the number n of single photons and of the phase weight factors employed at each interferometer channel.

Current-phase relation and flux-dependent thermoelectricity in Andreev interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dolgirev, Pavel E.; Kalenkov, Mikhail S.; Zaikin, Andrei D.

2018-02-01

We predict a novel current-phase relation in multiterminal Andreev interferometers that emerges from an interplay between long-range quantum coherence and nonequilibrium effects. Under nonzero bias V the current-phase relation IS(ϕ ) resembles that of a ϕ0 junction differing from the latter due to a nonzero average I0(V ) =<;IS(ϕ)>;ϕ . The flux-dependent thermopower S (Φ ) of the system has a similar form to that of the current-phase relation and in certain limits it can reduce to an either odd or even function of Φ in agreement with a number of experimental observations.

A heterodyne interferometer with periodic nonlinearities smaller than ±10 pm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weichert, C.; Köchert, P.; Köning, R.; Flügge, J.; Andreas, B.; Kuetgens, U.; Yacoot, A.

2012-09-01

The PTB developed a new optical heterodyne interferometer in the context of the European joint research project ‘Nanotrace’. A new optical concept using plane-parallel plates and spatially separated input beams to minimize the periodic nonlinearities was realized. Furthermore, the interferometer has the resolution of a double-path interferometer, compensates for possible angle variations between the mirrors and the interferometer optics and offers a minimal path difference between the reference and the measurement arm. Additionally, a new heterodyne phase evaluation based on an analogue to digital converter board with embedded field programmable gate arrays was developed, providing a high-resolving capability in the single-digit picometre range. The nonlinearities were characterized by a comparison with an x-ray interferometer, over a measurement range of 2.2 periods of the optical interferometer. Assuming an error-free x-ray interferometer, the nonlinearities are considered to be the deviation of the measured displacement from a best-fit line. For the proposed interferometer, nonlinearities smaller than ±10 pm were observed without any quadrature fringe correction.

Phase comparator apparatus and method

DOEpatents

Coffield, F.E.

1985-02-01

This invention finds especially useful application for interferometer measurements made in plasma fusion devices (e.g., for measuring the line integral of electron density in the plasma). Such interferometers typically use very high intermediate frequencies (e.g., on the order of 10 to 70 MHz) and therefore the phase comparison circuitry should be a high speed circuit with a linear transfer characteristic so as to accurately differentiate between small fractions of interference fringes.

Control of the coherence behavior in a SFG interferometer through the multipump phases command.

PubMed

Darré, P; Lehmann, L; Grossard, L; Delage, L; Reynaud, F

2018-03-19

In this paper, we report on a novel method to control the coherence behavior in a sum frequency generation interferometer powered by two independent pump lines. At the output of the interferometer, the two incoherent fringe patterns must be superimposed to maximize the contrast. The first step consists in canceling the differential group delay. The second one uses the phase control on one pump to synchronize the fringe patterns. This innovative method is experimentally demonstrated with a setup involving a 1544 nm signal and two pump lines around 1064 nm leading to a converted signal around 630 nm. It can be easily extended to a greater number of pump lines.

π Spin Berry Phase in a Quantum-Spin-Hall-Insulator-Based Interferometer: Evidence for the Helical Spin Texture of the Edge States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wei; Deng, Wei-Yin; Hou, Jing-Min; Shi, D. N.; Sheng, L.; Xing, D. Y.

2016-08-01

The quantum spin Hall insulator is characterized by helical edge states, with the spin polarization of the electron being locked to its direction of motion. Although the edge-state conduction has been observed, unambiguous evidence of the helical spin texture is still lacking. Here, we investigate the coherent edge-state transport in an interference loop pinched by two point contacts. Because of the helical character, the forward interedge scattering enforces a π spin rotation. Two successive processes can only produce a nontrivial 2 π or trivial 0 spin rotation, which can be controlled by the Rashba spin-orbit coupling. The nontrivial spin rotation results in a geometric π Berry phase, which can be detected by a π phase shift of the conductance oscillation relative to the trivial case. Our results provide smoking gun evidence for the helical spin texture of the edge states. Moreover, it also provides the opportunity to all electrically explore the trajectory-dependent spin Berry phase in condensed matter.

A Core-Offset Mach Zehnder Interferometer Based on A Non-Zero Dispersion-Shifted Fiber and Its Torsion Sensing Application.

PubMed

Huerta-Mascotte, Eduardo; Sierra-Hernandez, Juan M; Mata-Chavez, Ruth I; Jauregui-Vazquez, Daniel; Castillo-Guzman, Arturo; Estudillo-Ayala, Julian M; Guzman-Chavez, Ana D; Rojas-Laguna, Roberto

2016-06-10

In this paper, an all-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) based on a non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber (NZ-DSF) is presented. The MZI was implemented by core-offset fusion splicing one section of a NZ-DSF fiber between two pieces of single mode fibers (SMFs). Here, the NZ-DSF core and cladding were used as the arms of the MZI, while the core-offset sections acted as optical fiber couplers. Thus, a MZI interference spectrum with a fringe contrast (FC) of about 20 dB was observed. Moreover, its response spectrum was experimentally characterized to the torsion parameter and a sensitivity of 0.070 nm/° was achieved. Finally, these MZIs can be implemented in a compact size and low cost.

A Core-Offset Mach Zehnder Interferometer Based on A Non-Zero Dispersion-Shifted Fiber and Its Torsion Sensing Application

PubMed Central

Huerta-Mascotte, Eduardo; Sierra-Hernandez, Juan M.; Mata-Chavez, Ruth I.; Jauregui-Vazquez, Daniel; Castillo-Guzman, Arturo; Estudillo-Ayala, Julian M.; Guzman-Chavez, Ana D.; Rojas-Laguna, Roberto

2016-01-01

In this paper, an all-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) based on a non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber (NZ-DSF) is presented. The MZI was implemented by core-offset fusion splicing one section of a NZ-DSF fiber between two pieces of single mode fibers (SMFs). Here, the NZ-DSF core and cladding were used as the arms of the MZI, while the core-offset sections acted as optical fiber couplers. Thus, a MZI interference spectrum with a fringe contrast (FC) of about 20 dB was observed. Moreover, its response spectrum was experimentally characterized to the torsion parameter and a sensitivity of 0.070 nm/° was achieved. Finally, these MZIs can be implemented in a compact size and low cost. PMID:27294930

A Moire Fringing Spectrometer for Extra-Solar Planet Searches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Eyken, J. C.; Ge, J.; Mahadevan, S.; De Witt, C.; Ramsey, L. W.; Berger, D.; Shaklan, S.; Pan, X.

2001-12-01

We have developed a prototype moire fringing spectrometer for high precision radial velocity measurements for the detection of extra-solar planets. This combination of Michelson interferometer and spectrograph overlays an interferometer comb on a medium resolution stellar spectrum, producing Moire patterns. Small changes in the doppler shift of the spectrum lead to corresponding large shifts in the Moire pattern (Moire magnification). The sinusoidal shape of the Moire fringes enables much simpler measurement of these shifts than in standard echelle spectrograph techniques, facilitating high precision measurements with a low cost instrument. Current data analysis software we have developed has produced short-term repeatability (over a few hours) to 5-10m/s, and future planned improvements based on previous experiments should reduce this significantly. We plan eventually to carry out large scale surveys for low mass companions around other stars. This poster will present new results obtained in the lab and at the HET and Palomar 5m telescopes, the theory of the instrument, and data analysis techniques.

A phase-contrast X-ray imaging system—with a 60×30 mm field of view—based on a skew-symmetric two-crystal X-ray interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoneyama, Akio; Takeda, Tohoru; Tsuchiya, Yoshinori; Wu, Jin; Thet-Thet-Lwin; Koizumi, Aritaka; Hyodo, Kazuyuki; Itai, Yuji

2004-05-01

A phase-contrast X-ray imaging system—with a 60×30 mm field of view—for biomedical observations was developed. To extend the observation field of view, the system is fitted with a skew-symmetric two-crystal X-ray interferometer. To attain the required sub-nanoradian mechanical stability between the crystal blocks for precise operation, the interferometer was mounted on two extremely rigid positioning tables (one with a sleeve bearings) and was controlled by a feedback positioning system using phase-lock interferometry. The imaging system produced a 60×30 mm interference pattern with 60% visibility using 17.7 keV monochromatic synchrotron X-rays at the Photon Factory. It was then used to perform radiographic observation (i.e., phase mapping) of rat liver vessels. These results indicate that this imaging system can be used to perform observations of large and in vivo biological samples.

Wollaston prism phase-stepping point diffraction interferometer and method

DOEpatents

Rushford, Michael C.

2004-10-12

A Wollaston prism phase-stepping point diffraction interferometer for testing a test optic. The Wollaston prism shears light into reference and signal beams, and provides phase stepping at increased accuracy by translating the Wollaston prism in a lateral direction with respect to the optical path. The reference beam produced by the Wollaston prism is directed through a pinhole of a diaphragm to produce a perfect spherical reference wave. The spherical reference wave is recombined with the signal beam to produce an interference fringe pattern of greater accuracy.

Removing left-right asymmetry in a Sagnac interferometer applied to cancel its reflectance dependence on birefringence.

PubMed

Golub, Ilya; Exir, Hourieh

2013-05-01

We present a left-right symmetry restoring method, which removes the detrimental birefringence in the single-mode fiber Sagnac interferometer, achieved with the aid of a half waveplate oriented at a specific angle. We show theoretically and demonstrate experimentally that adding a π-shift between clockwise and counterclockwise propagating, horizontally (in fiber loop plane) polarized field components, the Sagnac loop mirror's reflection becomes independent on birefringence of an element placed in the loop.

Space-time resolved measurements of spontaneous magnetic fields in laser-produced plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pisarczyk, T.; Chodukowski, T.; Kalinowska, Z.

2015-10-15

The first space-time resolved spontaneous magnetic field (SMF) measurements realized on Prague Asterix Laser System are presented. The SMF was generated as a result of single laser beam (1.315 μm) interaction with massive planar targets made of materials with various atomic numbers (plastic and Cu). Measured SMF confirmed azimuthal geometry and their maximum amplitude reached the value of 10 MG at the laser energy of 250 J for both target materials. It was demonstrated that spatial distributions of these fields are associated with the character of the ablative plasma expansion which clearly depends on the target material. To measure the SMF, themore » Faraday effect was employed causing rotation of the vector of polarization of the linearly polarized diagnostic beam. The rotation angle was determined together with the phase shift using a novel design of a two-channel polaro-interferometer. To obtain sufficiently high temporal resolution, the polaro-interferometer was irradiated by Ti:Sa laser pulse with the wavelength of 808 nm and the pulse duration of 40 fs. The results of measurements were compared with theoretical analysis.« less

Atom Interferometry with Ultracold Quantum Gases in a Microgravity Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, Jason; D'Incao, Jose; Chiow, Sheng-Wey; Yu, Nan

2015-05-01

Precision atom interferometers (AI) in space promise exciting technical capabilities for fundamental physics research, with proposals including unprecedented tests of the weak equivalence principle, precision measurements of the fine structure and gravitational constants, and detection of gravity waves and dark energy. Consequently, multiple AI-based missions have been proposed to NASA, including a dual-atomic-species interferometer that is to be integrated into the Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) onboard the International Space Station. In this talk, I will discuss our plans and preparation at JPL for the proposed flight experiments to use the CAL facility to study the leading-order systematics expected to corrupt future high-precision measurements of fundamental physics with AIs in microgravity. The project centers on the physics of pairwise interactions and molecular dynamics in these quantum systems as a means to overcome uncontrolled shifts associated with the gravity gradient and few-particle collisions. We will further utilize the CAL AI for proof-of-principle tests of systematic mitigation and phase-readout techniques for use in the next-generation of precision metrology experiments based on AIs in microgravity. This research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

High-sensitivity density fluctuation detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Azzazy, M.; Modarress, D.; Hoeft, T.

1987-01-01

A high-sensitivity differential interferometer has been developed to detect small density fluctuations over an optical path length of the order of the boundary layer thickness near transition. Two experimental configurations have been used to evaluate the performance of the interferometer: an open shear-layer configuration and a wind-tunnel turbulent spot configuration. In each experiment small temperature fluctuations were introduced as the signal source. Simultaneous cold-wire measurements have been compared with the interferometer data. The comparison shows that the interferometer is sensitive to very weak phase variations of the order of 0.001 of the laser wavelength.

A demonstrator for an incoherent Doppler wind lidar receiver

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fabre, F.; Marini, A.; Sidler, Thomas C.; Morancais, Didier; Fongy, G.; Vidal, Ph.

2018-04-01

The knowledge of wind fields for a global terrestrial coverage and accurate altitude sampling is one of the main keys for improvement of meteorological predictions and general understanding of atmosphere behaviour. The best way to recover this information is remote sensing from space using low Earth orbit satellites. The measurement principle is to analyse the Doppler shift of the flux emitted by the space instrument and backscattered by the atmosphere. One of the most promising principle for Doppler shift measurement is the direct detection which does not need local oscillators. what significantly simplifies the design of such a space-borne receiver. ESA-ESTEC initiated at early 95' a programme called "lncoherent Doppler Wind Lidar (IDWL) technologies" for the study and bread-boarding phase. MMS won this contract proposing an original concept based on the use of a Fizeau high resolution interferometer working in the UV band. coupled with an intensified CCD. This concept is patented by MMS, as well as the special CCD timing sequence that will be depicted below. The programme begun by a study of the space-borne instrument in order to identify main constraints and define the receiver as could be for a flight model. A detailed performance model was established and parametric analysis allowed to optimise the concept in order to reach required performances. This study phase finally provided the definition of a bread-board for expected performances demonstration. Moreover, the Laser Signal Simulator (LSS) which is used to simulate the Lidar echo in term of amplitude as well as frequency modulation was defined at this step. The performances of this test support equipment are of main importance for the validation of the demonstrator design and performances. The second part of the study aimed at defining the derailed design of the demonstrator and associated test support equipment as well as initiating preliminary validation experiments on most critical technologies, like Fizeau interferometer which needs particularly high thermal stability and spectral resolution. At the end of this design phase. the test bench equipment begun to be manufactured and equipment test results preliminary assessed the study phase results. After integration, the correct operation and control of the overall test bench were assessed and performance tests were undertaken . The final conclusion of this programme aimed at up­dating the performance simulation software in order to refine expected performances for the future flight instrument.

PSD Determination using a Simultaneous-Phase Acquisition Interferometer for the Constellation-X Spectroscopy X-ray Telescope (SXT) Mirrors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lehan, J. P.; Saha, T.; Zhang, W. W.

2006-01-01

We investigated the use of a simultaneous-phase acquisition interferometer (a 4D FizCamTM 1500) for determining the PSD of the extremely-high aspect ratio (500: 1) glass mirrors for the Constellation-X SXT telescope. We found that the results obtained are strongly influenced by the methodology employed while collecting the data and outline a best method for this type of measurement.

A phase contrast imaging–interferometer system for detection of multiscale electron density fluctuations on DIII-D

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Davis, E. M.; Rost, J. C.; Porkolab, M.

2016-11-15

Heterodyne interferometry and phase contrast imaging (PCI) are robust, mature techniques for measuring low-k and high-k electron density fluctuations, respectively. This work describes the first-ever implementation of a combined PCI–interferometer. The combined system uses a single 10.6 μm probe beam, two interference schemes, and two detectors to measure electron density fluctuations at large spatiotemporal bandwidth (10 kHz

A new method for determining the plasma electron density using optical frequency comb interferometer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arakawa, Hiroyuki, E-mail: arakawa@fmt.teikyo-u.ac.jp; Tojo, Hiroshi; Sasao, Hajime

2014-04-15

A new method of plasma electron density measurement using interferometric phases (fractional fringes) of an optical frequency comb interferometer is proposed. Using the characteristics of the optical frequency comb laser, high density measurement can be achieved without fringe counting errors. Simulations show that the short wavelength and wide wavelength range of the laser source and low noise in interferometric phases measurements are effective to reduce ambiguity of measured density.

X-ray grating interferometer for materials-science imaging at a low-coherent wiggler source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Herzen, Julia; Physics Department and Institute for Medical Engineering, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, 85748 Garching; Donath, Tilman

2011-11-15

X-ray phase-contrast radiography and tomography enable to increase contrast for weakly absorbing materials. Recently, x-ray grating interferometers were developed that extend the possibility of phase-contrast imaging from highly brilliant radiation sources like third-generation synchrotron sources to non-coherent conventional x-ray tube sources. Here, we present the first installation of a three grating x-ray interferometer at a low-coherence wiggler source at the beamline W2 (HARWI II) operated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht at the second-generation synchrotron storage ring DORIS (DESY, Hamburg, Germany). Using this type of the wiggler insertion device with a millimeter-sized source allows monochromatic phase-contrast imaging of centimeter sized objects withmore » high photon flux. Thus, biological and materials-science imaging applications can highly profit from this imaging modality. The specially designed grating interferometer currently works in the photon energy range from 22 to 30 keV, and the range will be increased by using adapted x-ray optical gratings. Our results of an energy-dependent visibility measurement in comparison to corresponding simulations demonstrate the performance of the new setup.« less

Fabrication and Test of an Optical Magnetic Mirror

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagopian, John G.; Roman, Patrick A.; Shiri, Shahram; Wollack, Edward J.; Roy, Madhumita

2011-01-01

Traditional mirrors at optical wavelengths use thin metalized or dielectric layers of uniform thickness to approximate a perfect electric field boundary condition. The electron gas in such a mirror configuration oscillates in response to the incident photons and subsequently re-emits fields where the propagation and electric field vectors have been inverted and the phase of the incident magnetic field is preserved. We proposed fabrication of sub-wavelength-scale conductive structures that could be used to interact with light at a nano-scale and enable synthesis of the desired perfect magnetic-field boundary condition. In a magnetic mirror, the interaction of light with the nanowires, dielectric layer and ground plate, inverts the magnetic field vector resulting in a zero degree phase shift upon reflection. Geometries such as split ring resonators and sinusoidal conductive strips were shown to demonstrate magnetic mirror behavior in the microwave and then in the visible. Work to design, fabricate and test a magnetic mirror began in 2007 at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) under an Internal Research and Development (IRAD) award Our initial nanowire geometry was sinusoidal but orthogonally asymmetric in spatial frequency, which allowed clear indications of its behavior by polarization. We report on the fabrication steps and testing of magnetic mirrors using a phase shifting interferometer and the first far-field imaging of an optical magnetic mirror.

Phase retrieval using a modified Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor with defocus.

PubMed

Li, Changwei; Li, Bangming; Zhang, Sijiong

2014-02-01

This paper proposes a modified Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for phase retrieval. The sensor is revamped by placing a detector at a defocused plane before the focal plane of the lenslet array of the Shack-Hartmann sensor. The algorithm for phase retrieval is an optimization with initial Zernike coefficients calculated by the conventional phase reconstruction of the Shack-Hartmann sensor. Numerical simulations show that the proposed sensor permits sensitive, accurate phase retrieval. Furthermore, experiments tested the feasibility of phase retrieval using the proposed sensor. The surface irregularity for a flat mirror was measured by the proposed method and a Veeco interferometer, respectively. The irregularity for the mirror measured by the proposed method is in very good agreement with that measured using the Veeco interferometer.

Phase-stepping fiber-optic projected fringe system for surface topography measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mercer, Carolyn R. (Inventor); Beheim, Glenn (Inventor)

1992-01-01

A projected fringe interferometer for measuring the topography of an object is presented. The interferometer periodically steps the phase angle between a pair of light beams emanating from a common source. The steps are pi/2 radians (90 deg) apart, and at each step a video image of the fringes is recorded and stored. Photodetectors measure either the phase and theta of the beams or 2(theta). Either of the measures can be used to control one of the light beams so that the 90 deg theta is accurately maintained. A camera, a computer, a phase controller, and a phase modulator established closed-loop control of theta. Measuring the phase map of a flat surface establishes a calibration reference.

Phase-locked, high power, mid-infrared quantum cascade laser arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, W.; Slivken, S.; Razeghi, M.

2018-04-01

We demonstrate phase-locked, high power quantum cascade laser arrays, which are combined using a monolithic, tree array multimode interferometer, with emission wavelengths around 4.8 μm. A maximum output power of 15 W was achieved from an eight-element laser array, which has only a slightly higher threshold current density and a similar slope efficiency compared to a Fabry-Perot laser of the same length. Calculated multimode interferometer splitting loss is on the order of 0.27 dB for the in-phase supermode. In-phase supermode operation with nearly ideal behavior is demonstrated over the working current range of the array.

Next Generation Instrumentation for the Very Large Telescope Interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quirrenbach, A.

The scientific capabilities of the VLT Interferometer can be substantially enhanced through new focal-plane instruments. Many interferometric techniques - astrometry, phase-referenced imaging, nulling, and differential phase measurements - require control of the phase to <~ 1 rad; this capability will be provided at the VLTI by the PRIMA facility. Phase-coherent operation of the VLTI will also make it possible to perform interferometry with spectral resolution up to R ~ 100,000 by building fiber links to the high-resolution spectrographs UVES and CRIRES. These developments will open new approaches to fundamental problems in fields as diverse as extrasolar planets, stellar atmospheres, circumstellar matter, and active galactic nuclei.

Real Time Metrology Using Heterodyne Interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, Joseph T..., Jr.

1983-11-01

The Air Force Weapons Laboratory (AFWL) located at Albuquerque, NM has developed a digital heterodyne interferometer capable of real-time, closed loop analysis and control of adaptive optics. The device uses independent phase modulation of two orthogonal polarizations of an argon ion laser to produce a temporally phase modulated interferogram of the test object in a Twyman-Green interferometer. Differential phase detection under the control of a Data General minicomputer helps reconstruct the phase front without noise effects from amplitude modulation in the optical train. The system consists of the interferometer optics, phase detection circuitry, and the minicomputer, allowing for complete software control of the process. The software has been unified into a powerful package that performs automatic data acquisition, OPD reconstruction, and Zernike analysis of the resulting wavefront. The minicomputer has the capability to control external devices so that closed loop analysis and control is possible. New software under development will provide a framework of data acquisition, display, and storage packages which can be integrated with analysis and control packages customized to the user's needs. Preliminary measurements with the system show that it is noise limited by laser beam phase quality and vibration of the optics. Active measures are necessary to reduce the impact of these noise sources.

High-throughput, high-resolution X-ray phase contrast tomographic microscopy for visualisation of soft tissue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonald, S. A.; Marone, F.; Hintermüller, C.; Bensadoun, J.-C.; Aebischer, P.; Stampanoni, M.

2009-09-01

The use of conventional absorption based X-ray microtomography can become limited for samples showing only very weak absorption contrast. However, a wide range of samples studied in biology and materials science can produce significant phase shifts of the X-ray beam, and thus the use of the phase signal can provide substantially increased contrast and therefore new and otherwise inaccessible information. The application of two approaches for high-throughput, high-resolution X-ray phase contrast tomography, both available on the TOMCAT beamline of the SLS, is illustrated. Differential Phase Contrast (DPC) imaging uses a grating interferometer and a phase-stepping technique. It has been integrated into the beamline environment on TOMCAT in terms of the fast acquisition and reconstruction of data and the availability to scan samples within an aqueous environment. The second phase contrast approach is a modified transfer of intensity approach that can yield the 3D distribution of the phase (refractive index) of a weakly absorbing object from a single tomographic dataset. These methods are being used for the evaluation of cell integrity in 3D, with the specific aim of following and analyzing progressive cell degeneration to increase knowledge of the mechanistic events of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Spatially Resolved Measurement of the Stress Tensor in Thin Membranes Using Bending Waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waitz, Reimar; Lutz, Carolin; Nößner, Stephan; Hertkorn, Michael; Scheer, Elke

2015-04-01

The mode shape of bending waves in thin silicon and silicon-carbide membranes is measured as a function of space and time, using a phase-shift interferometer with stroboscopic light. The mode shapes hold information about all the relevant mechanical parameters of the samples, including the spatial distribution of static prestress. We present a simple algorithm to obtain a map of the lateral tensor components of the prestress, with a spatial resolution much better than the wavelength of the bending waves. The method is not limited to measuring the stress of bending waves. It is applicable in almost any situation, where the fields determining the state of the system can be measured as a function of space and time.

Structured FBG filters for 10-Gb/s DPSK signal demodulation in single ended applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marazzi, L.; Boffi, P.; Parolari, P.; Martinelli, M.; Gatti, D.; Coluccelli, N.; Longhi, S.

2011-05-01

Differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) demodulations operated by a structured fiber Bragg grating (FBG) filter and by a Mach-Zehnder delay interferometer (MZDI) in a single-ended configuration are compared. Experimental measurements at 10 Gb/s demonstrate that a specially designed FBG outperforms an integrated-optic MZDI of ˜4 dB and ˜3.5 dB in back-to-back and after 25-km propagation, respectively. Both demodulators show low polarization sensitivity and signal frequency detuning dependence, but only MZDI operating point requires a thermal control. FBG filter proves an interesting solution for DPSK demodulation in low-cost applications and, moreover, can be designed to match colorless requirements of wave division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) applications.

Birefringence dispersion compensation demodulation algorithm for polarized low-coherence interferometry.

PubMed

Wang, Shuang; Liu, Tiegen; Jiang, Junfeng; Liu, Kun; Yin, Jinde; Wu, Fan

2013-08-15

A demodulation algorithm based on the birefringence dispersion characteristics for a polarized low-coherence interferometer is proposed. With the birefringence dispersion parameter taken into account, the mathematical model of the polarized low-coherence interference fringes is established and used to extract phase shift information between the measured coherence envelope center and the zero-order fringe, which eliminates the interferometric 2 π ambiguity of locating the zero-order fringe. A pressure measurement experiment using an optical fiber Fabry-Perot pressure sensor was carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The experiment result showed that the demodulation precision was 0.077 kPa in the range of 210 kPa, which was improved by 23 times compared to the traditional envelope detection method.

2 GHz clock quantum key distribution over 260 km of standard telecom fiber.

PubMed

Wang, Shuang; Chen, Wei; Guo, Jun-Fu; Yin, Zhen-Qiang; Li, Hong-Wei; Zhou, Zheng; Guo, Guang-Can; Han, Zheng-Fu

2012-03-15

We report a demonstration of quantum key distribution (QKD) over a standard telecom fiber exceeding 50 dB in loss and 250 km in length. The differential phase shift QKD protocol was chosen and implemented with a 2 GHz system clock rate. By careful optimization of the 1 bit delayed Faraday-Michelson interferometer and the use of the superconducting single photon detector (SSPD), we achieved a quantum bit error rate below 2% when the fiber length was no more than 205 km, and of 3.45% for a 260 km fiber with 52.9 dB loss. We also improved the quantum efficiency of SSPD to obtain a high key rate for 50 km length.

A microwave interferometer for small and tenuous plasma density measurements.

PubMed

Tudisco, O; Lucca Fabris, A; Falcetta, C; Accatino, L; De Angelis, R; Manente, M; Ferri, F; Florean, M; Neri, C; Mazzotta, C; Pavarin, D; Pollastrone, F; Rocchi, G; Selmo, A; Tasinato, L; Trezzolani, F; Tuccillo, A A

2013-03-01

The non-intrusive density measurement of the thin plasma produced by a mini-helicon space thruster (HPH.com project) is a challenge, due to the broad density range (between 10(16) m(-3) and 10(19) m(-3)) and the small size of the plasma source (2 cm of diameter). A microwave interferometer has been developed for this purpose. Due to the small size of plasma, the probing beam wavelength must be small (λ = 4 mm), thus a very high sensitivity interferometer is required in order to observe the lower density values. A low noise digital phase detector with a phase noise of 0.02° has been used, corresponding to a density of 0.5 × 10(16) m(-3).

Holography with a neutron interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarenac, Dusan; Cory, David G.; Pushin, Dmitry A.; Heacock, Benjamin; Huber, Michael G.; Arif, M.; Clark, Charles W.; Shahi, Chandra B.; Cfref Collaboration

2017-01-01

We demonstrate the first neutron hologram of a macroscopic object. Using a Mach-Zehnder neutron interferometer in a configuration similar to the optical setup of Bazhenov et al., our reference beam passes through a fused silica prism that provides a linear phase gradient, and our object beam beam passes through an aluminum spiral phase plate with a topological charge of l = 2 , which was recently used in studies of neutron orbital angular momentum. Interference of reference and object beams in a two-dimensional imaging detector produces the hologram, which is a fork dislocation structure similar to those used to generate atomic and electronic vortex beams. Our neutron hologram is made in an interferometer in which at most one neutron is present at any given time.

Femto-second synchronisation with a waveguide interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dexter, A. C.; Smith, S. J.; Woolley, B. J.; Grudiev, A.

2018-03-01

CERN's compact linear collider CLIC requires crab cavities on opposing linacs to rotate bunches of particles into alignment at the interaction point (IP). These cavities are located approximately 25 metres either side of the IP. The luminosity target requires synchronisation of their RF phases to better than 5 fs r.m.s. This is to be achieved by powering both cavities from one high power RF source, splitting the power and delivering it along two waveguide paths that are controlled to be identical in length to within a micrometre. The waveguide will be operated as an interferometer. A high power phase shifter for adjusting path lengths has been successfully developed and operated in an interferometer. The synchronisation target has been achieved in a low power prototype system.

Frequency stabilization of an Er-doped fiber laser with a collinear 2f-to-3f self-referencing interferometer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hitachi, K., E-mail: hitachi.kenichi@lab.ntt.co.jp; Ishizawa, A.; Mashiko, H.

2015-06-08

We report the stabilization of the carrier-envelope offset (CEO) frequency of an Er-doped fiber laser with a collinear 2f-to-3f self-referencing interferometer. The interferometer is implemented by a dual-pitch periodically poled lithium niobate ridge waveguide with two different quasi-phase matching pitch sizes. We obtain a 52-dB signal-to-noise ratio in the 100-kHz resolution bandwidth of a heterodyne beat signal, which is sufficient for frequency stabilization. We also demonstrate that the collinear geometry is robust against environmental perturbation by comparing in-loop and out-of-loop Allan deviations when the in-loop CEO frequency is stabilized with a phase-locked loop circuit.

High-visibility photonic crystal fiber interferometer for ultrasensitive refractometric sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cárdenas-Sevilla, Guillermo A.; Fávero, Fernando C.; Finazzi, Vittoria; Villatoro, Joel; Pruneri, Valerio

2011-09-01

A simple and compact photonic crystal fiber (PCF) interferometer that operates in reflection mode is proposed for refractive index (RI) sensing. The device consists of a ~12mm-long stub of commercially available PCF (LMA-10) fusion spliced to standard optical fiber (SMF-28). The device reflection spectrum exhibits interference patterns with fringe contrast up to 40 dB. One of the excited modes in the PCF is sensitive to external RI therefore the device can be useful for refractrometry. The shift of the interference pattern can be monitored as a function of the external index. In the operating range, from 1.33 to 1.43, the maximum shift is less than the interferometer period, so there is no-ambiguity in the measurements. The maximum sensitivity and resolution achieved were 735 nm per RI units and 7×10-5, respectively. Another approach to measure the external RI consists of monitoring the reflection power located at the quadrature point of the inference pattern in a properly selected wavelength. Consequently the measuring range is narrower but the resolution is higher, up ~7×10-6, thanks to the high fringe contrast.

Twin-Core Fiber-Based Mach Zehnder Interferometer for Simultaneous Measurement of Strain and Temperature

PubMed Central

Kowal, Dominik; Urbanczyk, Waclaw; Mergo, Pawel

2018-01-01

In this paper we present an all-fiber interferometric sensor for the simultaneous measurement of strain and temperature. It is composed of a specially fabricated twin-core fiber spliced between two pieces of a single-mode fiber. Due to the refractive index difference between the two cores in a twin-core fiber, a differential interference pattern is produced at the sensor output. The phase response of the interferometer to strain and temperature is measured in the 850–1250 nm spectral range, showing zero sensitivity to strain at 1000 nm. Due to the significant difference in sensitivities to both parameters, our interferometer is suitable for two-parameter sensing. The simultaneous response of the interferometer to strain and temperature was studied using the two-wavelength interrogation method and a novel approach based on the spectral fitting of the differential phase response. As the latter technique uses all the gathered spectral information, it is more reliable and yields the results with better accuracy. PMID:29558386

Bright squeezed vacuum in a nonlinear interferometer: Frequency and temporal Schmidt-mode description

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharapova, P. R.; Tikhonova, O. V.; Lemieux, S.; Boyd, R. W.; Chekhova, M. V.

2018-05-01

Control over the spectral properties of the bright squeezed vacuum (BSV), a highly multimode nonclassical macroscopic state of light that can be generated through high-gain parametric down conversion, is crucial for many applications. In particular, in several recent experiments BSV is generated in a strongly pumped SU(1,1) interferometer to achieve phase supersensitivity, perform broadband homodyne detection, or tailor the frequency spectrum of squeezed light. In this work, we present an analytical approach to the theoretical description of BSV in the frequency domain based on the Bloch-Messiah reduction and the Schmidt-mode formalism. As a special case we consider a strongly pumped SU(1,1) interferometer. We show that different moments of the radiation at its output depend on the phase, dispersion, and the parametric gain in a nontrivial way, thereby providing additional insights on the capabilities of nonlinear interferometers. In particular, a dramatic change in the spectrum occurs as the parametric gain increases.

TanDEM-X calibrated Raw DEM generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Cristian; Rodriguez Gonzalez, Fernando; Fritz, Thomas; Yague-Martinez, Nestor; Eineder, Michael

2012-09-01

The TanDEM-X mission successfully started on June 21st 2010 with the launch of the German radar satellite TDX, placed in orbit in close formation with the TerraSAR-X (TSX) satellite, and establishing the first spaceborne bistatic interferometer. The processing of SAR raw data to the Raw DEM is performed by one single processor, the Integrated TanDEM-X Processor (ITP). The quality of the Raw DEM is a fundamental parameter for the mission planning. In this paper, a novel quality indicator is derived. It is based on the comparison of the interferometric measure, the unwrapped phase, and the stereo-radargrammetric measure, the geometrical shifts computed in the coregistration stage. By stating the accuracy of the unwrapped phase, it constitutes a useful parameter for the determination of problematic scenes, which will be resubmitted to the dual baseline phase unwrapping processing chain for the mitigation of phase unwrapping errors. The stereo-radargrammetric measure is also operationally used for the Raw DEM absolute calibration through an accurate estimation of the absolute phase offset. This paper examines the interferometric algorithms implemented for the operational TanDEM-X Raw DEM generation, focusing particularly on its quality assessment and its calibration.

Two-wavelength laser-diode heterodyne interferometry with one phasemeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onodera, Ribun; Ishii, Yukihiro

1995-12-01

A two-wavelength laser-diode interferometer that is based on heterodyne detection with one phasemeter has been constructed. Two laser diodes are frequency modulated by mutually inverted sawtooth currents on an unbalanced interferometer. One can measure the tested phase at a synthetic wavelength from the sum of the interference beat signals by synchronizing them with the modulation frequency. The experimental result presented shows a phase-measurement range with a 4.7- mu m synthetic wavelength.

Interferometer for measuring dynamic corneal topography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Micali, Jason Daniel

The cornea is the anterior most surface of the eye and plays a critical role in vision. A thin fluid layer, the tear film, coats the outer surface of the cornea and serves to protect, nourish, and lubricate the cornea. At the same time, the tear film is responsible for creating a smooth continuous surface where the majority of refraction takes place in the eye. A significant component of vision quality is determined by the shape of the cornea and stability of the tear film. It is desirable to possess an instrument that can measure the corneal shape and tear film surface with the same accuracy and resolution that is currently performed on common optical elements. A dual interferometer system for measuring the dynamic corneal topography is designed, built, and verified. The completed system is validated by testing on human subjects. The system consists of two co-aligned polarization splitting Twyman-Green interferometers designed to measure phase instantaneously. The primary interferometer measures the surface of the tear film while the secondary interferometer simultaneously tracks the absolute position of the cornea. Eye motion, ocular variation, and a dynamic tear film surface will result in a non-null configuration of the surface with respect to the interferometer system. A non-null test results in significant interferometer induced errors that add to the measured phase. New algorithms are developed to recover the absolute surface topography of the tear film and corneal surface from the simultaneous interferometer measurements. The results are high-resolution and high-accuracy surface topography measurements of the in vivo cornea that are captured at standard camera frame rates. This dissertation will cover the development and construction of an interferometer system for measuring the dynamic corneal topography of the human eye. The discussion starts with the completion of an interferometer for measuring the tear film. The tear film interferometer is part of an ongoing research project that has spanned multiple dissertations. For this research, the instrument was tested on human subjects and resulted in refinements to the interferometer design. The final configuration of the tear film interferometer and results from human subjects testing are presented. Feedback from this instrument was used to support the development and construction of the interferometric corneal topographer system. A calibration is performed on the instrument, and then verified against simulated eye surfaces. Finally, the instrument is validated by testing on human subjects. The result is an interferometer system that can non-invasively measure the dynamic corneal topography with greater accuracy and resolution than existing technologies.

Investigations into phase effects from diffracted Gaussian beams for high-precision interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lodhia, Deepali

Gravitational wave detectors are a new class of observatories aiming to detect gravitational waves from cosmic sources. All-reflective interferometer configurations have been proposed for future detectors, replacing transmissive optics with diffractive elements, thereby reducing thermal issues associated with power absorption. However, diffraction gratings introduce additional phase noise, creating more stringent conditions for alignment stability, and further investigations are required into all-reflective interferometers. A suitable mathematical framework using Gaussian modes is required for analysing the alignment stability using diffraction gratings. Such a framework was created, whereby small beam displacements are modelled using a modal technique. It was confirmed that the original modal-based model does not contain the phase changes associated with grating displacements. Experimental tests verified that the phase of a diffracted Gaussian beam is independent of the beam shape. Phase effects were further examined using a rigorous time-domain simulation tool. These findings show that the perceived phase difference is based on an intrinsic change of coordinate system within the modal-based model, and that the extra phase can be added manually to the modal expansion. This thesis provides a well-tested and detailed mathematical framework that can be used to develop simulation codes to model more complex layouts of all-reflective interferometers.

The Palomar Testbed Interferometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Colavita, M. M.; Wallace, J. K.; Hines, B. E.; Gursel, Y.; Malbet, F.; Palmer, D. L.; Pan, X. P.; Shao, M.; Yu, J. W.; Boden, A. F.

1999-01-01

The Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI) is a long-baseline infrared interferometer located at Palomar Observatory, California. It was built as a testbed for interferometric techniques applicable to the Keck Interferometer. First fringes were obtained in 1995 July. PTI implements a dual-star architecture, tracking two stars simultaneously for phase referencing and narrow-angle astrometry. The three fixed 40 cm apertures can be combined pairwise to provide baselines to 110 m. The interferometer actively tracks the white-light fringe using an array detector at 2.2 microns and active delay lines with a range of +/-38 m. Laser metrology of the delay lines allows for servo control, and laser metrology of the complete optical path enables narrow-angle astrometric measurements. The instrument is highly automated, using a multiprocessing computer system for instrument control and sequencing.

Observations of winds with an incoherent lidar detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abreu, Vincent J.; Barnes, John E.; Hays, Paul B.

1992-01-01

A Fabry-Perot interferometer and image-plane detector system to be used as a receiver for a Doppler lidar have been developed. This system incorporates the latest technology in multichannel detectors, and it is an important step toward the development of operational wind profiler systems for the atmosphere. The instrumentation includes a stable high-resolution optically contacted plane etalon and a multiring anode detector to scan the image plane of the Fabry-Perot interferometer spatially. The high wavelength resolution provided by the interferometer permits the aerosol and molecular components of the backscattered signal to be distinguished, and the Doppler shift of either component can then be used to determine the wind altitude profile. The receiver performance has been tested by measuring the wind profile in the boundary layer. The Fabry-Perot interferometer and image-plane detector characteristics are described and sample measurements are presented. The potential of the system as a wind profiler in the troposphere, the stratosphere, and the mesosphere is also considered.

Reference Interferometer Using a Semiconductor Laser/LED Reference Source in a Cryogenic Fourier-Transform Spectrometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martino, Anthony J.; Cornwell, Donald M.

1998-01-01

A combination of a single mode AlGaAs laser diode and broadband LED was used in a Michelson interferometer to provide reference signals in a Fourier transform spectrometer, the Composite Infrared Spectrometer, on the Cassini mission to Saturn. The narrowband light from the laser produced continuous fringes throughout the travel of the interferometer, which were used to control the velocity of the scan mechanism and to trigger data sampling. The broadband light from the LED produced a burst of fringes at zero path difference, which was used as a fixed position reference. The system, including the sources, the interferometer, and the detectors, was designed to work both at room temperature and instrument operating temperature of 170 Kelvin. One major challenge that was overcome was preservation, from room temperature to 170 K, of alignment sufficient for high modulation of fringes from the broadband source. Another was the shift of the source spectra about 30 nm toward shorter wavelengths upon cooldown.

Effects of loss on the phase sensitivity with parity detection in an SU(1,1) interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Dong; Yuan, Chun-Hua; Yao, Yao; Jiang, Wei; Li, Mo; Zhang, Weiping

2018-05-01

We theoretically study the effects of loss on the phase sensitivity of an SU(1,1) interferometer with parity detection with various input states. We show that although the sensitivity of phase estimation decreases in the presence of loss, it can still beat the shot-noise limit with small loss. To examine the performance of parity detection, the comparison is performed among homodyne detection, intensity detection, and parity detection. Compared with homodyne detection and intensity detection, parity detection has a slight better optimal phase sensitivity in the absence of loss, but has a worse optimal phase sensitivity with a significant amount of loss with one-coherent state or coherent $\\otimes$ squeezed state input.

The high-resolution Doppler imager on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hays, Paul B.; Abreu, Vincent J.; Dobbs, Michael E.; Gell, David A.; Grassl, Heinz J.; Skinner, Wilbert R.

1993-01-01

The high-resolution Doppler imager (HRDI) on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite is a triple-etalon Fabry-Perot interferometer designed to measure winds in the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere. Winds are determined by measuring the Doppler shifts of rotational lines of the O2 atmospheric band, which are observed in emission in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere and in absorption in the stratosphere. The interferometer has high resolution (0.05/cm), good offhand rejection, aud excellent stability. This paper provides details of the design and capabilities of the HRDI instrument.

In-fiber Fabry-Perot refractometer assisted by a long-period grating.

PubMed

Mosquera, L; Sáez-Rodriguez, D; Cruz, J L; Andrés, M V

2010-02-15

We present an optical fiber refractometer based on a Fabry-Perot interferometer defined by two fiber Bragg gratings and an intracavity long-period grating that makes the light confined in the resonator interact with the surrounding medium. The external refractive index is monitored by the resonant frequencies of the Fabry-Perot interferometer, which can be measured either in transmission or in reflection. In this first experiment, wavelength shifts measured with a resolution of 0.1 pm have allowed one to establish a refractive index detection limit of 2.1x10(-5).

Torsion sensing setup based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with photonics crystal fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pacheco-Chacon, Eliana I.; Gallegos-Arellano, E.; Sierra-Hernandez, Juan M.; Rojas-Laguna, Roberto; Estudillo-Ayala, Julian M.; Hernandez, Emmanuel; Jauregui-Vazquez, D.; Hernandez-Garcia, J. C.

2017-02-01

A torsion experimental sensing setup based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with photonics crystal fiber is presented. The MZI was fabricated by fusion splicing a piece of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) between two segments of a single-mode fiber (SMF). Here, a spectral MZI fringe shifting is induced by applying torsion over the SMF-PCF-SMF. As a result a torsion sensitivity of 35.79 pm/ and a high visibility of 10 dB were achieved. Finally, it is shown that the sensing arrangement is compact and robust.

Landau-Zener interferometry in a Cooper pair box

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sillanpää, Mika; Lehtinen, Teijo; Paila, Antti; Makhlin, Yuriy; Hakonen, Pertti

2006-03-01

Quantum-mechanical systems having two crossing energy levels are ubiquitous in nature. The rate v = d (E1- E0)/dt at which such levels in a driven system approach each other determines the probability PLZ of a Landau-Zener (LZ) tunneling between them. The traditional treatment of the LZ process, however, ignores quantum-mechanical interference. Here we report an observation of phase-sensitive interference between consecutive LZ tunneling attempts in an artificial two-state system, a superconducting charge qubit. We interpret the experiment in terms of a multi-pass analog to the optical Mach- Zehnder interferometer: The beam splitting occurs by LZ tunneling at the charge degeneracy, while the arms of the Mach- Zehnder interferometer in energy space are represented by the ground and excited state. In accord with theory, we observe constructive interference when the Stokes phase φS picked up during the LZ interaction, and the dynamical phase of one drive period φ= (E1- E0) dt satisfy the condition: (φ- 2 φS) = m .2π. Our LZ interferometer can be used as a high-resolution detector for phase and charge owing to interferometric sensitivity- enhancement.

Water Vapor Measurement and Compensation in the Near and Mid-infrared with the Keck Interferometer Nuller

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koresko, Chris D.; Colavita, Mark M.; Serabyn, Eugene; Booth, Andrew; Garcia, Jean I.

2006-01-01

A viewgraph presentation describing the methods, motivation and methods for water vapor measurement with the Keck interferometer near and mid infrared radiation band is shown. The topics include: 1) Motivation: Why measure H2O?; 2) Method: How do we measure H2O?; 3) Data: Phase and Group Delays for the K and N Bands; 4) Predicted and Actual Nband Phase and Dispersion; and 5) Validation of Atmospheric Turbulence Models with KI Data.

Revealing the Sub-Barrier Phase using a Spatiotemporal Interferometer with Orthogonal Two-Color Laser Fields of Comparable Intensity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Meng; Ge, Peipei; Shao, Yun; Liu, Ming-Ming; Deng, Yongkai; Wu, Chengyin; Gong, Qihuang; Liu, Yunquan

2017-08-01

We measure photoelectron momentum distributions of Ar atoms in orthogonally polarized two-color laser fields with comparable intensities. The synthesized laser field is used to manipulate the oscillating tunneling barrier and the subsequent motion of electrons onto two spatial dimensions. The subcycle structures associated with the temporal double-slit interference are spatially separated and enhanced. We use such a spatiotemporal interferometer to reveal sub-barrier phase of strong-field tunneling ionization. This study shows that the tunneling process transfers the initial phase onto momentum distribution. Our work has the implication that the sub-barrier phase plays an indispensable role in photoelectron interference processes.

Fundamental performance determining factors of the ultrahigh-precision space-borne optical metrology system for the LISA Pathfinder mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hechenblaikner, Gerald; Flatscher, Reinhold

2013-05-01

The LISA Pathfinder mission to space employs an optical metrology system (OMS) at its core to measure the distance and attitude between two freely floating test-masses to picometer and nanorad accuracy, respectively, within the measurement band of [1 mHz, 30 mHz]. The OMS is based upon an ultra-stable optical bench with 4 heterodyne interferometers from which interference signals are read-out and processed by a digital phase-meter. Laser frequency noise, power fluctuations and optical path-length variations are suppressed to uncritical levels by dedicated control loops so that the measurement performance approaches the sensor limit imposed by the phasemeter. The system design is such that low frequency common mode noise which affects the read-out phase of all four interferometers is generally well suppressed by subtraction of a reference phase from the other interferometer signals. However, high frequency noise directly affects measurement performance and its common mode rejection depends strongly on the relative signal phases. We discuss how the data from recent test campaigns point towards high frequency phase noise as a likely performance limiting factor which explains some important performance features.

Quantitative Phase Determination by Using a Michelson Interferometer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pomarico, Juan A.; Molina, Pablo F.; D'Angelo, Cristian

2007-01-01

The Michelson interferometer is one of the best established tools for quantitative interferometric measurements. It has been, and is still successfully used, not only for scientific purposes, but it is also introduced in undergraduate courses for qualitative demonstrations as well as for quantitative determination of several properties such as…

Cryptographic robustness of a quantum cryptography system using phase-time coding

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Molotkov, S. N.

2008-01-15

A cryptographic analysis is presented of a new quantum key distribution protocol using phase-time coding. An upper bound is obtained for the error rate that guarantees secure key distribution. It is shown that the maximum tolerable error rate for this protocol depends on the counting rate in the control time slot. When no counts are detected in the control time slot, the protocol guarantees secure key distribution if the bit error rate in the sifted key does not exceed 50%. This protocol partially discriminates between errors due to system defects (e.g., imbalance of a fiber-optic interferometer) and eavesdropping. In themore » absence of eavesdropping, the counts detected in the control time slot are not caused by interferometer imbalance, which reduces the requirements for interferometer stability.« less

Measuring Cyclic Error in Laser Heterodyne Interferometers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ryan, Daniel; Abramovici, Alexander; Zhao, Feng; Dekens, Frank; An, Xin; Azizi, Alireza; Chapsky, Jacob; Halverson, Peter

2010-01-01

An improved method and apparatus have been devised for measuring cyclic errors in the readouts of laser heterodyne interferometers that are configured and operated as displacement gauges. The cyclic errors arise as a consequence of mixing of spurious optical and electrical signals in beam launchers that are subsystems of such interferometers. The conventional approach to measurement of cyclic error involves phase measurements and yields values precise to within about 10 pm over air optical paths at laser wavelengths in the visible and near infrared. The present approach, which involves amplitude measurements instead of phase measurements, yields values precise to about .0.1 microns . about 100 times the precision of the conventional approach. In a displacement gauge of the type of interest here, the laser heterodyne interferometer is used to measure any change in distance along an optical axis between two corner-cube retroreflectors. One of the corner-cube retroreflectors is mounted on a piezoelectric transducer (see figure), which is used to introduce a low-frequency periodic displacement that can be measured by the gauges. The transducer is excited at a frequency of 9 Hz by a triangular waveform to generate a 9-Hz triangular-wave displacement having an amplitude of 25 microns. The displacement gives rise to both amplitude and phase modulation of the heterodyne signals in the gauges. The modulation includes cyclic error components, and the magnitude of the cyclic-error component of the phase modulation is what one needs to measure in order to determine the magnitude of the cyclic displacement error. The precision attainable in the conventional (phase measurement) approach to measuring cyclic error is limited because the phase measurements are af-

Analysis of Acousto-Optic Errors in Laser Gyroscopes.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-12-01

2 2 Sagnac’s Interferometer ................................ 4 3 Harress ’ Prism Ring.................................... 5 4...years before Sagnac’s experiment, Harress , a German graduate student formed a ring of partially reflecting prisms to measure the dispersive properties of...glass (Figure 3). Harress noticed a fringe shift when he rotated the ring, and he assumed that the shift was caused by the *dragging" of the light

40-Gbit/s all-optical circulating shift register with an inverter.

PubMed

Hall, K L; Donnelly, J P; Groves, S H; Fennelly, C I; Bailey, R J; Napoleone, A

1997-10-01

We report what is believed to be the first demonstration of an all-optical circulating shift register using an ultrafast nonlinear interferometer with a polarization-insensitive semiconductor optical amplifier as the nonlinear switching element. The device operates at 40 Gbits/s, to our knowledge the highest speed demonstrated to date. Also, the demonstration proves the cascadability of the ultrafast nonlinear interferometric switch.

Enhancing interferometer phase estimation, sensing sensitivity, and resolution using robust entangled states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, James F.

2017-11-01

With the goal of designing interferometers and interferometer sensors, e.g., LADARs with enhanced sensitivity, resolution, and phase estimation, states using quantum entanglement are discussed. These states include N00N states, plain M and M states (PMMSs), and linear combinations of M and M states (LCMMS). Closed form expressions for the optimal detection operators; visibility, a measure of the state's robustness to loss and noise; a resolution measure; and phase estimate error, are provided in closed form. The optimal resolution for the maximum visibility and minimum phase error are found. For the visibility, comparisons between PMMSs, LCMMS, and N00N states are provided. For the minimum phase error, comparisons between LCMMS, PMMSs, N00N states, separate photon states (SPSs), the shot noise limit (SNL), and the Heisenberg limit (HL) are provided. A representative collection of computational results illustrating the superiority of LCMMS when compared to PMMSs and N00N states is given. It is found that for a resolution 12 times the classical result LCMMS has visibility 11 times that of N00N states and 4 times that of PMMSs. For the same case, the minimum phase error for LCMMS is 10.7 times smaller than that of PMMS and 29.7 times smaller than that of N00N states.

Cooperative interactions in dense thermal Rb vapour confined in nm-scale cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keaveney, James

Gravitational wave detectors are a new class of observatories aiming to detect gravitational waves from cosmic sources. All-reflective interferometer configurations have been proposed for future detectors, replacing transmissive optics with diffractive elements, thereby reducing thermal issues associated with power absorption. However, diffraction gratings introduce additional phase noise, creating more stringent conditions for alignment stability, and further investigations are required into all-reflective interferometers. A suitable mathematical framework using Gaussian modes is required for analysing the alignment stability using diffraction gratings. Such a framework was created, whereby small beam displacements are modelled using a modal technique. It was confirmed that the original modal-based model does not contain the phase changes associated with grating displacements. Experimental tests verified that the phase of a diffracted Gaussian beam is independent of the beam shape. Phase effects were further examined using a rigorous time-domain simulation tool. These findings show that the perceived phase difference is based on an intrinsic change of coordinate system within the modal-based model, and that the extra phase can be added manually to the modal expansion. This thesis provides a well-tested and detailed mathematical framework that can be used to develop simulation codes to model more complex layouts of all-reflective interferometers.

Near-common-path interferometer for imaging Fourier-transform spectroscopy in wide-field microscopy

PubMed Central

Wadduwage, Dushan N.; Singh, Vijay Raj; Choi, Heejin; Yaqoob, Zahid; Heemskerk, Hans; Matsudaira, Paul; So, Peter T. C.

2017-01-01

Imaging Fourier-transform spectroscopy (IFTS) is a powerful method for biological hyperspectral analysis based on various imaging modalities, such as fluorescence or Raman. Since the measurements are taken in the Fourier space of the spectrum, it can also take advantage of compressed sensing strategies. IFTS has been readily implemented in high-throughput, high-content microscope systems based on wide-field imaging modalities. However, there are limitations in existing wide-field IFTS designs. Non-common-path approaches are less phase-stable. Alternatively, designs based on the common-path Sagnac interferometer are stable, but incompatible with high-throughput imaging. They require exhaustive sequential scanning over large interferometric path delays, making compressive strategic data acquisition impossible. In this paper, we present a novel phase-stable, near-common-path interferometer enabling high-throughput hyperspectral imaging based on strategic data acquisition. Our results suggest that this approach can improve throughput over those of many other wide-field spectral techniques by more than an order of magnitude without compromising phase stability. PMID:29392168

Two-photon interference of polarization-entangled photons in a Franson interferometer.

PubMed

Kim, Heonoh; Lee, Sang Min; Kwon, Osung; Moon, Han Seb

2017-07-18

We present two-photon interference experiments with polarization-entangled photon pairs in a polarization-based Franson-type interferometer. Although the two photons do not meet at a common beamsplitter, a phase-insensitive Hong-Ou-Mandel type two-photon interference peak and dip fringes are observed, resulting from the two-photon interference effect between two indistinguishable two-photon probability amplitudes leading to a coincidence detection. A spatial quantum beating fringe is also measured for nondegenerate photon pairs in the same interferometer, although the two-photon states have no frequency entanglement. When unentangled polarization-correlated photons are used as an input state, the polarization entanglement is successfully recovered through the interferometer via delayed compensation.

Near-Infrared Keck Interferometer and IOTA Closure Phase Observations of Wolf-Rayet stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajagopal, J.; Wallace, D.; Barry, R.; Richardson, L. J.; Traub, W.; Danchi, W. C.

We present first results from observations of a small sample of IR-bright Wolf-Rayet stars with the Keck Interferometer in the near-infrared, and with the IONIC beam three-telescope beam combiner at the Infrared and Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) observatory. The former results were obtained as part of shared-risk observations in commissioning the Keck Interferometer and form a subset of a high-resolution study of dust around Wolf-Rayet stars using multiple interferometers in progress in our group. The latter results are the first closure phase observations of these stars in the near-infrared in a separated telescope interferometer. Earlier aperture-masking observations with the Keck-I telescope provide strong evidence that dust-formation in late-type WC stars are a result of wind-wind collision in short-period binaries.Our program with the Keck interferometer seeks to further examine this paradigm at much higher resolution. We have spatially resolved the binary in the prototypical dusty WC type star WR 140. WR 137, another episodic dust-producing star, has been partially resolved for the first time, providing the first direct clue to its possible binary nature.We also include WN stars in our sample to investigate circumstellar dust in this other main sub-type of WRs. We have been unable to resolve any of these, indicating a lack of extended dust.Complementary observations using the MIDI instrument on the VLTI in the mid-infrared are presented in another contribution to this workshop.

Plasmonic interferometers: From physics to biosensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Xie

Optical interferometry has a long history and wide range of applications. In recent years, plasmonic interferometer arouses great interest due to its compact size and enhanced light-matter interaction. They have demonstrated attractive applications in biomolecule sensing, optical modulation/switching, and material characterization, etc. In this work, we first propose a practical far-field method to extract the intrinsic phase dispersion, revealing important phase information during interactions among free-space light, nanostructure, and SPs. The proposed approach is confirmed by both simulation and experiment. Then we design novel plasmonic interferometer structure for sensitive optical sensing applications. To overcome two major limitations suffered by previously reported double-slit plasmonic Mach-Zehnder interferometer (PMZI), two new schemes are proposed and investigated. (1) A PMZI based on end-fire coupling improves the SP coupling efficiency and enhance the interference contrast more than 50 times. (2) In another design, a multi-layered metal-insulator-metal PMZI releases the requirement for single-slit illumination, which enables sensitive, high-throughput sensing applications based on intensity modulation. We develop a sensitive, low-cost and high-throughput biosensing platform based on intensity modulation using ring-hole plasmonic interferometers. This biosensor is then integrated with cell-phone-based microscope, which is promising to develop a portable sensor for point-of-care diagnostics, epidemic disease control and food safety monitoring.

A novel design measuring method based on linearly polarized laser interference

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Yanbo; Ai, Hua; Zhao, Nan

2013-09-01

The interferometric method is widely used in the precision measurement, including the surface quality of the large-aperture mirror. The laser interference technology has been developing rapidly as the laser sources become more and more mature and reliable. We adopted the laser diode as the source for the sake of the short coherent wavelength of it for the optical path difference of the system is quite shorter as several wavelengths, and the power of laser diode is sufficient for measurement and safe to human eye. The 673nm linearly laser was selected and we construct a novel form of interferometric system as we called `Closed Loop', comprised of polarizing optical components, such as polarizing prism and quartz wave plate, the light from the source split by which into measuring beam and referencing beam, they've both reflected by the measuring mirror, after the two beams transforming into circular polarization and spinning in the opposite directions we induced the polarized light synchronous phase shift interference technology to get the detecting fringes, which transfers the phase shifting in time domain to space, so that we did not need to consider the precise-controlled shift of optical path difference, which will introduce the disturbance of the air current and vibration. We got the interference fringes from four different CCD cameras well-alignment, and the fringes are shifted into four different phases of 0, π/2, π, and 3π/2 in time. After obtaining the images from the CCD cameras, we need to align the interference fringes pixel to pixel from different CCD cameras, and synthesis the rough morphology, after getting rid of systematic error, we could calculate the surface accuracy of the measuring mirror. This novel design detecting method could be applied into measuring the optical system aberration, and it would develop into the setup of the portable structural interferometer and widely used in different measuring circumstances.

Interferometers adaptations to lidars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Porteneuve, J.

1992-01-01

To perform daytime measurements of the density and temperature by Rayleigh lidar, it is necessary to select the wavelength with a very narrow spectral system. This filter is composed by an interference filter and a Fabry Perot etalon. The Fabry Perot etalon is the more performent compound, and it is necessary to build a specific optic around it. The image of the entrance pupil or the field diaphragm is at the infinite and the other diaphragm is on the etalon. The optical quality of the optical system is linked to the spectral resolution of the system to optimize the reduction of the field of view. The resolution is given by the formula: R = 8(xD/Fd)exp 2 where R = lambda/delta(lambda), x = diameter of the field diaphragm, D = diameter of the reception mirror, F = focal length of the telescope, and d = useful diameter of the etalon. In the Doppler Rayleigh lidars, the PF interferometer is the main part of the experiment and the exact spectral adaptation is the most critical problem. In the spectral adaptation of interferometers, the transmittance of the system will be acceptable if the etalon is exactly adjusted to the wavelength of the laser. It is necessary to work with a monomode laser, and adjust the shift to the bandpass of the interferometer. We are working with an interferometer built with molecular optical contact. This interferometer is put in a special pressure closed chamber.

Laser System for Precise, Unambiguous Range Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dubovitsky, Serge; Lay, Oliver

2005-01-01

The Modulation Sideband Technology for Absolute Range (MSTAR) architecture is the basis of design of a proposed laser-based heterodyne interferometer that could measure a range (distance) as great as 100 km with a precision and resolution of the order of 1 nm. Simple optical interferometers can measure changes in range with nanometer resolution, but cannot measure range itself because interference is subject to the well-known integer-multiple-of-2 -radians phase ambiguity, which amounts to a range ambiguity of the order of 1 m at typical laser wavelengths. Existing rangefinders have a resolution of the order of 10 m and are therefore unable to resolve the ambiguity. The proposed MSTAR architecture bridges the gap, enabling nanometer resolution with an ambiguity range that can be extended to arbitrarily large distances. The MSTAR architecture combines the principle of the heterodyne interferometer with the principle of extending the ambiguity range of an interferometer by using light of two wavelengths. The use of two wavelengths for this purpose is well established in optical metrology, radar, and sonar. However, unlike in traditional two-color laser interferometry, light of two wavelengths would not be generated by two lasers. Instead, multiple wavelengths would be generated as sidebands of phase modulation of the light from a single frequency- stabilized laser. The phase modulation would be effected by applying sinusoidal signals of suitable frequencies (typically tens of gigahertz) to high-speed electro-optical phase modulators. Intensity modulation can also be used

Spatially varying geometric phase in classically entangled vector beams of light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King-Smith, Andrew; Leary, Cody

We present theoretical results describing a spatially varying geometric (Pancharatnam) phase present in vector modes of light, in which the polarization and transverse spatial mode degrees of freedom exhibit classical entanglement. We propose an experimental setup capable of characterizing this effect, in which a vector mode propagates through a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a birefringent phase retarder present in one arm. Since the polarization state of a classically entangled light beam exhibits spatial variation across the transverse mode profile, the phase retarder gives rise to a spatially varying geometric phase in the beam propagating through it. When recombined with the reference beam from the other interferometer arm, the presence of the geometric phase is exhibited in the resulting interference pattern. We acknowledge funding from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement by means of a Cottrell College Science Award.

A closed-loop phase-locked interferometer for wide bandwidth position sensing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fleming, Andrew J., E-mail: Andrew.Fleming@Newcastle.edu.au; Routley, Ben S., E-mail: Ben.Routley@Newcastle.edu.au

This article describes a position sensitive interferometer with closed-loop control of the reference mirror. A calibrated nanopositioner is used to lock the interferometer phase to the most sensitive point in the interferogram. In this configuration, large low-frequency movements of the sensor mirror can be detected from the control signal applied to the nanopositioner and high-frequency short-range signals can be measured directly from the photodiode. It is demonstrated that these two signals are complementary and can be summed to find the total displacement. The resulting interferometer has a number of desirable characteristics: it is optically simple, does not require polarization ormore » modulation to detect the direction of motion, does not require fringe-counting or interpolation electronics, and has a bandwidth equal to that of the photodiode. Experimental results demonstrate the frequency response analysis of a high-speed positioning stage. The proposed instrument is ideal for measuring the frequency response of nanopositioners, electro-optical components, MEMs devices, ultrasonic devices, and sensors such as surface acoustic wave detectors.« less

Integrated Optical Interferometers with Micromachined Diaphragms for Pressure Sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeBrabander, Gregory N.; Boyd, Joseph T.

1996-01-01

Optical pressure sensors have been fabricated which use an integrated optical channel waveguide that is part of an interferometer to measure the pressure-induced strain in a micromachined silicon diaphragm. A silicon substrate is etched from the back of the wafer leaving a rectangular diaphragm. On the opposite side of the wafer, ring resonator and Mach-Zehnder interferometers are formed with optical channel waveguides made from a low pressure chemical vapor deposited film of silicon oxynitride. The interferometer's phase is altered by pressure-induced stress in a channel segment positioned over the long edge of the diaphragm. The phase change in the ring resonator is monitored using a link-insensitive swept frequency laser diode, while in the Mach-Zehnder it is determined using a broad band super luminescent diode with subsequent wavelength separation. The ring resonator was found to be highly temperature sensitive, while the Mach-Zehnder, which had a smaller optical path length difference, was proportionally less so. The quasi-TM mode was more sensitive to pressure, in accord with calculations. Waveguide and sensor theory, sensitivity calculations, a fabrication sequence, and experimental results are presented.

An x-ray backlit Talbot-Lau deflectometer for high-energy-density electron density diagnostics.

PubMed

Valdivia, M P; Stutman, D; Stoeckl, C; Theobald, W; Mileham, C; Begishev, I A; Bromage, J; Regan, S P

2016-02-01

X-ray phase-contrast techniques can measure electron density gradients in high-energy-density plasmas through refraction induced phase shifts. An 8 keV Talbot-Lau interferometer consisting of free standing ultrathin gratings was deployed at an ultra-short, high-intensity laser system using K-shell emission from a 1-30 J, 8 ps laser pulse focused on thin Cu foil targets. Grating survival was demonstrated for 30 J, 8 ps laser pulses. The first x-ray deflectometry images obtained under laser backlighting showed up to 25% image contrast and thus enabled detection of electron areal density gradients with a maximum value of 8.1 ± 0.5 × 10(23) cm(-3) in a low-Z millimeter sized sample. An electron density profile was obtained from refraction measurements with an error of <8%. The 50 ± 15 μm spatial resolution achieved across the full field of view was found to be limited by the x-ray source-size, similar to conventional radiography.

Off-axis mirror fabrication from spherical surfaces under mechanical stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Izazaga-Pérez, R.; Aguirre-Aguirre, D.; Percino-Zacarías, M. E.; Granados-Agustín, Fermin-Salomon

2013-09-01

The preliminary results in the fabrication of off-axis optical surfaces are presented. The propose using the conventional polishing method and with the surface under mechanical stress at its edges. It starts fabricating a spherical surface using ZERODUR® optical glass with the conventional polishing method, the surface is deformed by applying tension and/or compression at the surface edges using a specially designed mechanical mount. To know the necessary deformation, the interferogram of the deformed surface is analyzed in real time with a ZYGO® Mark II Fizeau type interferometer, the mechanical stress is applied until obtain the inverse interferogram associated to the off-axis surface that we need to fabricate. Polishing process is carried out again until obtain a spherical surface, then mechanical stress in the edges are removed and compares the actual interferogram with the theoretical associated to the off-axis surface. To analyze the resulting interferograms of the surface we used the phase shifting analysis method by using a piezoelectric phase-shifter and Durango® interferometry software from Diffraction International™.

Band edge tailoring of InGaAs/AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells for a monolithically integrated all-optical switch.

PubMed

Feng, Jijun; Akimoto, Ryoichi; Gozu, Shin-ichiro; Mozume, Teruo; Hasama, Toshifumi; Ishikawa, Hiroshi

2013-07-01

We demonstrate a compact all-optical Michelson interferometer (MI) gating switch with monolithic integration of two different bandgap energies. Based on the ion-induced intermixing in InGaAs/AlAsSb coupled double quantum wells, the blueshift of the band edge can be tailored. Through phosphorus ion implantation with a dose of 5 × 10(14) cm(-2) and subsequent annealing at 720 °C for 60 s, an implanted sample can acquire a high transmittance compared with the as-grown one. Meanwhile, the cross-phase modulation (XPM) efficiency of a non-implanted sample undergoing the same annealing process decreases little. An implanted part for signal propagation and a non-implanted section for XPM are thus monolithically integrated for an MI switch by an area-selective manner. Full switching of a π-rad nonlinear phase shift is achieved with pump pulse energy of 5.6 pJ at a 10-GHz repetition rate.

Interference of qubits in pure dephasing and almost pure dephasing environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Łobejko, Marcin; Mierzejewski, Marcin; Dajka, Jerzy

2015-07-01

Two-path interference of quantum particles with internal spin (qubits) interacting on one arm of the interferometer with bosonic environment is studied. It is assumed that the energy exchange between the qubit and its environment is either absent, which is a pure dephasing (decoherence) model, or very weak. Both the amplitude and the position of maximum of an output intensity discussed as a function of a phase shift can serve as a quantifier of parameters describing coupling between qubit and its environment. The time evolution of the qubit-environment system is analyzed in the Schrödinger picture and the output intensity for qubit-environment interaction close to pure decoherence is analyzed by means of perturbation theory. Quality of the applied approximation is verified by comparison with numerical results.

Calibration of the modulation transfer function of surface profilometers with binary pseudo-random test standards: expanding the application range

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yashchuk, Valeriy V.; Anderson, Erik H.; Barber, Samuel K.

2011-03-14

A modulation transfer function (MTF) calibration method based on binary pseudo-random (BPR) gratings and arrays [Proc. SPIE 7077-7 (2007), Opt. Eng. 47, 073602 (2008)] has been proven to be an effective MTF calibration method for a number of interferometric microscopes and a scatterometer [Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A616, 172 (2010)]. Here we report on a further expansion of the application range of the method. We describe the MTF calibration of a 6 inch phase shifting Fizeau interferometer. Beyond providing a direct measurement of the interferometer's MTF, tests with a BPR array surface have revealed an asymmetry in the instrument's datamore » processing algorithm that fundamentally limits its bandwidth. Moreover, the tests have illustrated the effects of the instrument's detrending and filtering procedures on power spectral density measurements. The details of the development of a BPR test sample suitable for calibration of scanning and transmission electron microscopes are also presented. Such a test sample is realized as a multilayer structure with the layer thicknesses of two materials corresponding to BPR sequence. The investigations confirm the universal character of the method that makes it applicable to a large variety of metrology instrumentation with spatial wavelength bandwidths from a few nanometers to hundreds of millimeters.« less

System for interferometric distortion measurements that define an optical path

DOEpatents

Bokor, Jeffrey; Naulleau, Patrick

2003-05-06

An improved phase-shifting point diffraction interferometer can measure both distortion and wavefront aberration. In the preferred embodiment, the interferometer employs an object-plane pinhole array comprising a plurality of object pinholes located between the test optic and the source of electromagnetic radiation and an image-plane mask array that is positioned in the image plane of the test optic. The image-plane mask array comprises a plurality of test windows and corresponding reference pinholes, wherein the positions of the plurality of pinholes in the object-plane pinhole array register with those of the plurality of test windows in image-plane mask array. Electromagnetic radiation that is directed into a first pinhole of object-plane pinhole array thereby creating a first corresponding test beam image on the image-plane mask array. Where distortion is relatively small, it can be directly measured interferometrically by measuring the separation distance between and the orientation of the test beam and reference-beam pinhole and repeating this process for at least one other pinhole of the plurality of pinholes of the object-plane pinhole array. Where the distortion is relative large, it can be measured by using interferometry to direct the stage motion, of a stage supporting the image-plane mask array, and then use the final stage motion as a measure of the distortion.

Interrogation of miniature extrinsic Fabry-Pérot sensor using path matched differential interferometer and phase generated carrier scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fuyin; Xie, Jiehui; Hu, Zhengliang; Xiong, Shuidong; Luo, Hong; Hu, Yongming

2014-05-01

Study of fiber optic extrinsic Fabry-Pérot sensors utilizing state-of-the-art MEMS technology mostly focus on sensor fabrication for various applications, while the signal interrogation is still insatiable to current application. In this paper, we propose a white light path matched differential interferometer dynamic sensing system utilizing phase generated carrier demodulation scheme. A step motor with a movable mirror and a fiber-wound piezoelectric transducer string are used to act path matching and phase modulation respectively. Experimental results show that the sensing signal could be correctly recovered with low distortion and the phase noise spectrum level is less than -100 dB re. rad/√Hz above 2.5 kHz.

Science with the space-based interferometer eLISA. II: gravitational waves from cosmological phase transitions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Caprini, Chiara, E-mail: chiara.caprini@cea.fr; Hindmarsh, Mark; Huber, Stephan

We investigate the potential for the eLISA space-based interferometer to detect the stochastic gravitational wave background produced by strong first-order cosmological phase transitions. We discuss the resulting contributions from bubble collisions, magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, and sound waves to the stochastic background, and estimate the total corresponding signal predicted in gravitational waves. The projected sensitivity of eLISA to cosmological phase transitions is computed in a model-independent way for various detector designs and configurations. By applying these results to several specific models, we demonstrate that eLISA is able to probe many well-motivated scenarios beyond the Standard Model of particle physics predicting strong first-ordermore » cosmological phase transitions in the early Universe.« less

Absolute distance measurement by dual-comb interferometry with multi-channel digital lock-in phase detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ruitao; Pollinger, Florian; Meiners-Hagen, Karl; Krystek, Michael; Tan, Jiubin; Bosse, Harald

2015-08-01

We present a dual-comb-based heterodyne multi-wavelength absolute interferometer capable of long distance measurements. The phase information of the various comb modes is extracted in parallel by a multi-channel digital lock-in phase detection scheme. Several synthetic wavelengths of the same order are constructed and the corresponding phases are averaged to deduce the absolute lengths with significantly reduced uncertainty. Comparison experiments with an incremental HeNe reference interferometer show a combined relative measurement uncertainty of 5.3 × 10-7 at a measurement distance of 20 m. Combining the advantage of synthetic wavelength interferometry and dual-comb interferometry, our compact and simple approach provides sufficient precision for many industrial applications.

The ATS-F interferometer - A precision wide field-of-view attitude sensor. [solid state system design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Teichman, M. A.; Marek, F. L.; Browning, J. J.; Parr, A. K.

1974-01-01

An RF phase interferometer has been integrated into the ATS-F spacecraft attitude control system. Laboratory measurements indicate that the interferometer is capable of determining spacecraft attitude in pitch and roll to an accuracy of 0.18 deg over a field-of-view of plus or minus 12.5 deg about the spacecraft normal axis with an angular resolution of 0.004 deg. The system is completely solid state, weighs 17 pounds, and consumes 12.5 W of DC power.

Wavelength-division and spatial multiplexing using tandem interferometers for Bragg grating sensor networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalli, K.; Brady, G. P.; Webb, D. J.; Jackson, D. A.; Zhang, L.; Bennion, I.

1995-12-01

We present a new method for the interrogation of large arrays of Bragg grating sensors. Eight gratings operating between the wavelengths of 1533 and 1555 nm have been demultiplexed. An unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer illuminated by a single low-coherence source provides a high-phase-resolution output for each sensor, the outputs of which are sequentially selected in wavelength by a tunable Fabry-Perot interferometer. The minimum detectable strain measured was 90 n 3 / \\radical Hz \\end-radical at 7 Hz for a wavelength of 1535 nm.

Self-referenced interferometer for cylindrical surfaces.

PubMed

Šarbort, Martin; Řeřucha, Šimon; Holá, Miroslava; Buchta, Zdeněk; Lazar, Josef

2015-11-20

We present a new interferometric method for shape measurement of hollow cylindrical tubes. We propose a simple and robust self-referenced interferometer where the reference and object waves are represented by the central and peripheral parts, respectively, of the conical wave generated by a single axicon lens. The interferogram detected by a digital camera is characterized by a closed-fringe pattern with a circular carrier. The interference phase is demodulated using spatial synchronous detection. The capabilities of the interferometer are experimentally tested for various hollow cylindrical tubes with lengths up to 600 mm.

The recent development of an X-ray grating interferometer at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Haohua; Kou, Bingquan; Xi, Yan; Qi, Juncheng; Sun, Jianqi; Mohr, Jürgen; Börner, Martin; Zhao, Jun; Xu, Lisa X.; Xiao, Tiqiao; Wang, Yujie

2012-07-01

An X-ray grating interferometer has been installed at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF). Three sets of phase gratings were designed to cover the wide X-ray energy range needed for biological and soft material imaging capabilities. The performance of the grating interferometer has been evaluated by a tomography study of a PMMA particle packing and a new born mouse chest. In the mouse chest study, the carotid artery and carotid vein inside the mouse can be identified in situ without contrast agents.

Methods for multiple-telescope beam imaging and guiding in the near-infrared

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anugu, N.; Amorim, A.; Gordo, P.; Eisenhauer, F.; Pfuhl, O.; Haug, M.; Wieprecht, E.; Wiezorrek, E.; Lima, J.; Perrin, G.; Brandner, W.; Straubmeier, C.; Le Bouquin, J.-B.; Garcia, P. J. V.

2018-05-01

Atmospheric turbulence and precise measurement of the astrometric baseline vector between any two telescopes are two major challenges in implementing phase-referenced interferometric astrometry and imaging. They limit the performance of a fibre-fed interferometer by degrading the instrument sensitivity and the precision of astrometric measurements and by introducing image reconstruction errors due to inaccurate phases. A multiple-beam acquisition and guiding camera was built to meet these challenges for a recently commissioned four-beam combiner instrument, GRAVITY, at the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope Interferometer. For each telescope beam, it measures (a) field tip-tilts by imaging stars in the sky, (b) telescope pupil shifts by imaging pupil reference laser beacons installed on each telescope using a 2 × 2 lenslet and (c) higher-order aberrations using a 9 × 9 Shack-Hartmann. The telescope pupils are imaged to provide visual monitoring while observing. These measurements enable active field and pupil guiding by actuating a train of tip-tilt mirrors placed in the pupil and field planes, respectively. The Shack-Hartmann measured quasi-static aberrations are used to focus the auxiliary telescopes and allow the possibility of correcting the non-common path errors between the adaptive optics systems of the unit telescopes and GRAVITY. The guiding stabilizes the light injection into single-mode fibres, increasing sensitivity and reducing the astrometric and image reconstruction errors. The beam guiding enables us to achieve an astrometric error of less than 50 μas. Here, we report on the data reduction methods and laboratory tests of the multiple-beam acquisition and guiding camera and its performance on-sky.

New Cryogenic Optical Test Capability at Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Optics Manufacturing Technology Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kegley, Jeff; Burdine, Robert V. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

A new cryogenic optical testing capability exists at Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Optics Manufacturing Technology Center (SOMTC). SOMTC has been performing optical wavefront testing at cryogenic temperatures since 1999 in the X-ray Cryogenic Test Facility's (XRCF's) large vacuum chamber. Recently the cryogenic optical testing capability has been extended to a smaller vacuum chamber. This smaller horizontal cylindrical vacuum chamber has been outfitted with a helium-cooled liner that can be connected to the facility's helium refrigeration system bringing the existing kilowatt of refrigeration capacity to bear on a 1 meter diameter x 2 meter long test envelope. Cryogenic environments to less than 20 Kelvin are now possible in only a few hours. SOMTC's existing instruments (the Instantaneous Phase-shifting Interferometer (IPI) from ADE Phase-Shift Technologies and the PhaseCam from 4D Vision Technologies) view the optic under test through a 150 mm clear aperture BK-7 window. Since activation and chamber characterization tests in September 2001, the new chamber has been used to perform a cryogenic (less than 30 Kelvin) optical test of a 22.5 cm diameter x 127 cm radius of curvature Si02 mirror, a cryogenic survival (less than 30 Kelvin) test of an adhesive, and a cryogenic cycle (less than 20 Kelvin) test of a ULE mirror. A vibration survey has also been performed on the test chamber. Chamber specifications and performance data, vibration environment data, and limited test results will be presented.

New Cryogenic Optical Test Capability at Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Optics Manufacturing Technology Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kegley, Jeff; Stahl, H. Philip (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

A new cryogenic optical testing capability exists at Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Optics Manufacturing Technology Center (SOMTC). SOMTC has been performing optical wavefront testing at cryogenic temperatures since 1999 in the X-ray Cryogenic Test Facility's (XRCF's) large vacuum chamber. Recently the cryogenic optical testing capability has been extended to a smaller vacuum chamber. This smaller horizontal cylindrical vacuum chamber has been outfitted with a helium-cooled liner that can be connected to the facility's helium refrigeration system bringing the existing kilowatt of refrigeration capacity to bear on a 1 meter diameter x 2 meter long test envelope. Cryogenic environments to less than 20 Kelvin are now possible in only a few hours. SOMTC's existing instruments (the Instantaneous Phase-shifting Interferometer (IPI) from ADE Phase-Shift Technologies and the PhaseCam from 4D Vision Technologies) view the optic under test through a 150 mm clear aperture BK-7 window. Since activation and chamber characterization tests in September 2001, the new chamber has been used to perform a cryogenic (less than 30 Kelvin) optical test of a 22.5 cm diameter x 127 cm radius of curvature SiO2 mirror, a cryogenic survival (less than 30 Kelvin) test of an adhesive, and a cryogenic cycle (less than 20 Kelvin) test of a ULE mirror. A vibration survey has also been performed on the test chamber. Chamber specifications and performance data, vibration environment data, and limited test results will be presented.

Variable millimetre radiation from the colliding-wind binary Cygnus OB2 #8A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blomme, R.; Fenech, D. M.; Prinja, R. K.; Pittard, J. M.; Morford, J. C.

2017-12-01

Context. Massive binaries have stellar winds that collide. In the colliding-wind region, various physically interesting processes occur, leading to enhanced X-ray emission, non-thermal radio emission, as well as non-thermal X-rays and gamma-rays. Non-thermal radio emission (due to synchrotron radiation) has so far been observed at centimetre wavelengths. At millimetre wavelengths, the stellar winds and the colliding-wind region emit more thermal free-free radiation, and it is expected that any non-thermal contribution will be difficult or impossible to detect. Aims: We aim to determine if the material in the colliding-wind region contributes substantially to the observed millimetre fluxes of a colliding-wind binary. We also try to distinguish the synchrotron emission from the free-free emission. Methods: We monitored the massive binary Cyg OB2 #8A at 3 mm with the NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array (NOEMA) interferometer of the Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM). The data were collected in 14 separate observing runs (in 2014 and 2016), and provide good coverage of the orbital period. Results: The observed millimetre fluxes range between 1.1 and 2.3 mJy, and show phase-locked variability, clearly indicating that a large part of the emission is due to the colliding-wind region. A simple synchrotron model gives fluxes with the correct order of magnitude, but with a maximum that is phase-shifted with respect to the observations. Qualitatively this phase shift can be explained by our neglect of orbital motion on the shape of the colliding-wind region. A model using only free-free emission results in only a slightly worse explanation of the observations. Additionally, on the map of our observations we also detect the O6.5 III star Cyg OB2 #8B, for which we determine a 3 mm flux of 0.21 ± 0.033 mJy. Conclusions: The question of whether synchrotron radiation or free-free emission dominates the millimetre fluxes of Cyg OB2 #8A remains open. More detailed modelling of this system, based on solving the hydrodynamical equations, is required to give a definite answer. This work is based on observations carried out under project numbers S14AW and S16AU with the IRAM NOEMA Interferometer. IRAM is supported by INSU/CNRS (France), MPG (Germany) and IGN (Spain).

Interferometric thickness calibration of 300 mm silicon wafers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Quandou; Griesmann, Ulf; Polvani, Robert

2005-12-01

The "Improved Infrared Interferometer" (IR 3) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a phase-measuring interferometer, operating at a wavelength of 1550 nm, which is being developed for measuring the thickness and thickness variation of low-doped silicon wafers with diameters up to 300 mm. The purpose of the interferometer is to produce calibrated silicon wafers, with a certified measurement uncertainty, which can be used as reference wafers by wafer manufacturers and metrology tool manufacturers. We give an overview of the design of the interferometer and discuss its application to wafer thickness measurements. The conversion of optical thickness, as measured by the interferometer, to the wafer thickness requires knowledge of the refractive index of the material of the wafer. We describe a method for measuring the refractive index which is then used to establish absolute thickness and thickness variation maps for the wafer.

Novel birefringence interrogation for Sagnac loop interferometer sensor with unlimited linear measurement range.

PubMed

He, Haijun; Shao, Liyang; Qian, Heng; Zhang, Xinpu; Liang, Jiawei; Luo, Bin; Pan, Wei; Yan, Lianshan

2017-03-20

A novel demodulation method for Sagnac loop interferometer based sensor has been proposed and demonstrated, by unwrapping the phase changes with birefringence interrogation. A temperature sensor based on Sagnac loop interferometer has been used to verify the feasibility of the proposed method. Several tests with 40 °C temperature range have been accomplished with a great linearity of 0.9996 in full range. The proposed scheme is universal for all Sagnac loop interferometer based sensors and it has unlimited linear measurable range which overwhelming the conventional demodulation method with peak/dip tracing. Furthermore, the influence of the wavelength sampling interval and wavelength span on the demodulation error has been discussed in this work. The proposed interrogation method has a great significance for Sagnac loop interferometer sensor and it might greatly enhance the availability of this type of sensors in practical application.

Laser interferometer for space-based mapping of Earth's gravity field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dehne, Marina; Sheard, Benjamin; Gerberding, Oliver; Mahrdt, Christoph; Heinzel, Gerhard; Danzmann, Karsten

2010-05-01

Laser interferometry will play a key role in the next generation of GRACE-type satellite gravity missions. The measurement concepts for future missions include a heterodyne laser interferometer. Furthermore, it is favourable to use polarising components in the laser interferometer for beam splitting. In the first step the influence of these components on the interferometer sensitivity has been investigated. Additionally, a length stability on a nm-scale has been validated. The next step will include a performance test of an interferometric SST system in an active symmetric transponder setup including two lasers and two optical benches. The design and construction of a quasi-monolithic interferometer for comparing the interferometric performance of non-polarising and polarising optics will be discussed. The results of the interferometric readout of a heterodyne configuration together with polarising optics will be presented to fulfil the phase sensitivity requirement of 1nm/√Hz-- for a typical SSI scenario.

Fiber-optic projected-fringe digital interferometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mercer, Carolyn R.; Beheim, Glenn

1990-01-01

A phase-stepped projected-fringe interferometer was developed which uses a closed-loop fiber-optic phase-control system to make very accurate surface profile measurements. The closed-loop phase-control system greatly reduces phase-stepping error, which is frequently the dominant source of error in digital interferometers. Two beams emitted from a fiber-optic coupler are combined to form an interference fringe pattern on a diffusely reflecting object. Reflections off of the fibers' output faces are used to create a phase-indicating signal for the closed-loop optical phase controller. The controller steps the phase difference between the two beams by pi/2 radians in order to determine the object's surface profile using a solid-state camera and a computer. The system combines the ease of alignment and automated data reduction of phase-stepping projected-fringe interferometry with the greatly improved phase-stepping accuracy of our closed-loop phase-controller. The system is demonstrated by measuring the profile of a plate containing several convex surfaces whose heights range from 15 to 25 micron high.

A novel femtosecond-gated, high-resolution, frequency-shifted shearing interferometry technique for probing pre-plasma expansion in ultra-intense laser experiments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Feister, S., E-mail: feister.7@osu.edu; Orban, C.; Innovative Scientific Solutions, Inc., Dayton, Ohio 45459

Ultra-intense laser-matter interaction experiments (>10{sup 18} W/cm{sup 2}) with dense targets are highly sensitive to the effect of laser “noise” (in the form of pre-pulses) preceding the main ultra-intense pulse. These system-dependent pre-pulses in the nanosecond and/or picosecond regimes are often intense enough to modify the target significantly by ionizing and forming a plasma layer in front of the target before the arrival of the main pulse. Time resolved interferometry offers a robust way to characterize the expanding plasma during this period. We have developed a novel pump-probe interferometry system for an ultra-intense laser experiment that uses two short-pulse amplifiersmore » synchronized by one ultra-fast seed oscillator to achieve 40-fs time resolution over hundreds of nanoseconds, using a variable delay line and other techniques. The first of these amplifiers acts as the pump and delivers maximal energy to the interaction region. The second amplifier is frequency shifted and then frequency doubled to generate the femtosecond probe pulse. After passing through the laser-target interaction region, the probe pulse is split and recombined in a laterally sheared Michelson interferometer. Importantly, the frequency shift in the probe allows strong plasma self-emission at the second harmonic of the pump to be filtered out, allowing plasma expansion near the critical surface and elsewhere to be clearly visible in the interferograms. To aid in the reconstruction of phase dependent imagery from fringe shifts, three separate 120° phase-shifted (temporally sheared) interferograms are acquired for each probe delay. Three-phase reconstructions of the electron densities are then inferred by Abel inversion. This interferometric system delivers precise measurements of pre-plasma expansion that can identify the condition of the target at the moment that the ultra-intense pulse arrives. Such measurements are indispensable for correlating laser pre-pulse measurements with instantaneous plasma profiles and for enabling realistic Particle-in-Cell simulations of the ultra-intense laser-matter interaction.« less

Distributed dynamic large strain optical fiber sensor based on the detection of spontaneous Brillouin scattering.

PubMed

Masoudi, Ali; Belal, Mohammad; Newson, Trevor P

2013-09-01

A Brillouin-based distributed optical fiber dynamic strain sensor is described which converts strain-induced Brillouin frequency shift into optical intensity variations by using an imbalanced Mach-Zhender interferometer. A 3×3 coupler is used at the output of this interferometer to permit differentiate and cross multiply demodulation. The demonstrated sensor is capable of probing dynamic strain disturbances over 2 km of sensing length every 0.5 s up to a strain of 10 mε with an accuracy of ±50 με and spatial resolution of 1.3 m.

Glucose sensor realized with photonic crystal fiber-based Sagnac interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

An, Guowen; Li, Shuguang; An, Yinghong; Wang, Haiyang; Zhang, Xuenan

2017-12-01

A compact glucose sensor is proposed by using a short length of photonic crystal fiber inserted in a Sagnac loop interferometer. Spectrum shift in response to the RI of glucose solution with a high average sensitivity of 22 130 nm/RIU is achieved, equivalent to 0.76 mg/dL of glucose in water, which is lower than 70 mg/dL for efficient detection of hypoglycemia episodes. And the simplicity of the fiber structure makes the sensor production very cost effective. We aimed to provide a potential effective method for glucose detection in patients with hypoglycemia.

Effective beam separation schemes for the measurement of the electric Aharonov-Bohm effect in an ion interferometer.

PubMed

Schütz, G; Rembold, A; Pooch, A; Prochel, H; Stibor, A

2015-11-01

We propose an experiment for the first proof of the type I electric Aharonov-Bohm effect in an ion interferometer for hydrogen. The performances of three different beam separation schemes are simulated and compared. The coherent ion beam is generated by a single atom tip (SAT) source and separated by either two biprisms with a quadrupole lens, two biprisms with an einzel-lens or three biprisms. The beam path separation is necessary to introduce two metal tubes that can be pulsed with different electric potentials. The high time resolution of a delay line detector allows to work with a continuous ion beam and circumvents the pulsed beam operation as originally suggested by Aharonov and Bohm. We demonstrate that the higher mass and therefore lower velocity of ions compared to electrons combined with the high expected SAT ion emission puts the direct proof of this quantum effect for the first time into reach of current technical possibilities. Thereby a high detection rate of coherent ions is crucial to avoid long integration times that allow the influence of dephasing noise from the environment. We can determine the period of the expected matter wave interference pattern and the signal on the detector by determining the superposition angle of the coherent partial beams. Our simulations were tested with an electron interferometer setup and agree with the experimental results. We determine the separation scheme with three biprisms to be most efficient and predict a total signal acquisition time of only 80s to measure a phase shift from 0 to 2π due to the electric Aharonov-Bohm effect. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Array-type miniature interferometer as the core optical microsystem of an optical coherence tomography device for tissue inspection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Passilly, Nicolas; Perrin, Stéphane; Lullin, Justine; Albero, Jorge; Bargiel, Sylwester; Froehly, Luc; Gorecki, Christophe; Krauter, Johann; Osten, Wolfgang; Wang, Wei-Shan; Wiemer, Maik

2016-04-01

Some of the critical limitations for widespread use in medical applications of optical devices, such as confocal or optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems, are related to their cost and large size. Indeed, although quite efficient systems are available on the market, e.g. in dermatology, they equip only a few hospitals and hence, are far from being used as an early detection tool, for instance in screening of patients for early detection of cancers. In this framework, the VIAMOS project aims at proposing a concept of miniaturized, batch-fabricated and lower-cost, OCT system dedicated to non-invasive skin inspection. In order to image a large skin area, the system is based on a full-field approach. Moreover, since it relies on micro-fabricated devices whose fields of view are limited, 16 small interferometers are arranged in a dense array to perform multi-channel simultaneous imaging. Gaps between each channel are then filled by scanning of the system followed by stitching. This approach allows imaging a large area without the need of large optics. It also avoids the use of very fast and often expensive laser sources, since instead of a single point detector, almost 250 thousands pixels are used simultaneously. The architecture is then based on an array of Mirau interferometers which are interesting for their vertical arrangement compatible with vertical assembly at the wafer-level. Each array is consequently a local part of a stack of seven wafers. This stack includes a glass lens doublet, an out-of-plane actuated micro-mirror for phase shifting, a spacer and a planar beam-splitter. Consequently, different materials, such as silicon and glass, are bonded together and well-aligned thanks to lithographic-based fabrication processes.

High sensitivity refractive index sensor based on adiabatic tapered optical fiber deposited with nanofilm by ALD.

PubMed

Zhu, Shan; Pang, Fufei; Huang, Sujuan; Zou, Fang; Dong, Yanhua; Wang, Tingyun

2015-06-01

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology is introduced to fabricate a high sensitivity refractive index sensor based on an adiabatic tapered optical fiber. Different thickness of Al₂O₃ nanofilm is coated around fiber taper precisely and uniformly under different deposition cycles. Attributed to the high refractive index of the Al₂O₃ nanofilm, an asymmetry Fabry-Perot like interferometer is constructed along the fiber taper. Based on the ray-optic analysis, total internal reflection happens on the nanofilm-surrounding interface. With the ambient refractive index changing, the phase delay induced by the Goos-Hänchen shift is changed. Correspondingly, the transmission resonant spectrum shifts, which can be utilized for realizing high sensitivity sensor. The high sensitivity sensor with 6008 nm/RIU is demonstrated by depositing 3000 layers Al₂O₃ nanofilm as the ambient refractive index is close to 1.33. This high sensitivity refractive index sensor is expected to have wide applications in biochemical sensors.

Surface stress sensor based on MEMS Fabry-Perot interferometer with high wavelength selectivity for label-free biosensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Toshiaki; Hizawa, Takeshi; Misawa, Nobuo; Taki, Miki; Sawada, Kazuaki; Takahashi, Kazuhiro

2018-05-01

We have developed a surface stress sensor based on a microelectromechanical Fabry-Perot interferometer with high wavelength selectivity by using Au half-mirrors, for highly sensitive label-free biosensing. When the target molecule is adsorbed by the antigen-antibody reaction onto a movable membrane with a thin Au film, which acts as an upper mirror of the optical interferometer, the amount of deflection of the movable membrane deflected by the change in surface stress can be detected with high sensitivity. To improve the signal at the small membrane deflection region of this biosensor resulting in detection of low concentration molecules, by integrating 50 nm-thick Au half-mirrors, the wavelength selectivity of the optical interferometer has been successfully improved 6.6 times. Furthermore, the peak shift in the reflection spectrum due to the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) antigen with a concentration of 10 ng ml-l by the antigen-antibody reaction was spectroscopically measured on the fabricated optical interferometer, and the deflection amount of the movable membrane after 10 min treatment was 2.4 times larger than that of nonspecific adsorption with the avidin molecules. This result indicated that the proposed sensor can be used for selective detection of low-concentration target antigen molecules.

Optofluidic in-fiber interferometer based on hollow optical fiber with two cores.

PubMed

Yuan, Tingting; Yang, Xinghua; Liu, Zhihai; Yang, Jun; Li, Song; Kong, Depeng; Qi, Xiuxiu; Yu, Wenting; Long, Qunlong; Yuan, Libo

2017-07-24

We demonstrate a novel integrated optical fiber interferometer for in-fiber optofluidic detection. It is composed of a specially designed hollow optical fiber with a micro-channel and two cores. One core on the inner surface of the micro-channel is served as sensing arm and the other core in the annular cladding is served as reference arm. Fusion-and-tapering method is employed to couple light from a single mode fiber to the hollow optical fiber in this device. Sampling is realized by side opening a microhole on the surface of the hollow optical fiber. Under differential pressure between the end of the hollow fiber and the microhole, the liquids can form steady microflows in the micro-channel. Simultaneously, the interference spectrum of the interferometer device shifts with the variation of the concentration of the microfluid in the channel. The optofluidic in-fiber interferometer has a sensitivity of refractive index around 2508 nm/RIU for NaCl. For medicine concentration detection, its sensitivity is 0.076 nm/mmolL -1 for ascorbic acid. Significantly, this work presents a compact microfluidic in-fiber interferometer with a micro-channel which can be integrated with chip devices without spatial optical coupling and without complex manufacturing procedure of the waveguide on the chips.

Optimizing signal recycling for detecting a stochastic gravitational-wave background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Duo; Christensen, Nelson

2018-06-01

Signal recycling is applied in laser interferometers such as the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (aLIGO) to increase their sensitivity to gravitational waves. In this study, signal recycling configurations for detecting a stochastic gravitational wave background are optimized based on aLIGO parameters. Optimal transmission of the signal recycling mirror (SRM) and detuning phase of the signal recycling cavity under a fixed laser power and low-frequency cutoff are calculated. Based on the optimal configurations, the compatibility with a binary neutron star (BNS) search is discussed. Then, different laser powers and low-frequency cutoffs are considered. Two models for the dimensionless energy density of gravitational waves , the flat model and the model, are studied. For a stochastic background search, it is found that an interferometer using signal recycling has a better sensitivity than an interferometer not using it. The optimal stochastic search configurations are typically found when both the SRM transmission and the signal recycling detuning phase are low. In this region, the BNS range mostly lies between 160 and 180 Mpc. When a lower laser power is used the optimal signal recycling detuning phase increases, the optimal SRM transmission increases and the optimal sensitivity improves. A reduced low-frequency cutoff gives a better sensitivity limit. For both models of , a typical optimal sensitivity limit on the order of 10‑10 is achieved at a reference frequency of Hz.

PLATFORM DEFORMATION PHASE CORRECTION FOR THE AMiBA-13 COPLANAR INTERFEROMETER

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liao, Yu-Wei; Lin, Kai-Yang; Huang, Yau-De

2013-05-20

We present a new way to solve the platform deformation problem of coplanar interferometers. The platform of a coplanar interferometer can be deformed due to driving forces and gravity. A deformed platform will induce extra components into the geometric delay of each baseline and change the phases of observed visibilities. The reconstructed images will also be diluted due to the errors of the phases. The platform deformations of The Yuan-Tseh Lee Array for Microwave Background Anisotropy (AMiBA) were modeled based on photogrammetry data with about 20 mount pointing positions. We then used the differential optical pointing error between two opticalmore » telescopes to fit the model parameters in the entire horizontal coordinate space. With the platform deformation model, we can predict the errors of the geometric phase delays due to platform deformation with a given azimuth and elevation of the targets and calibrators. After correcting the phases of the radio point sources in the AMiBA interferometric data, we recover 50%-70% flux loss due to phase errors. This allows us to restore more than 90% of a source flux. The method outlined in this work is not only applicable to the correction of deformation for other coplanar telescopes but also to single-dish telescopes with deformation problems. This work also forms the basis of the upcoming science results of AMiBA-13.« less

Generation of singular optical beams from fundamental Gaussian beam using Sagnac interferometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naik, Dinesh N.; Viswanathan, Nirmal K.

2016-09-01

We propose a simple free-space optics recipe for the controlled generation of optical vortex beams with a vortex dipole or a single charge vortex, using an inherently stable Sagnac interferometer. We investigate the role played by the amplitude and phase differences in generating higher-order Gaussian beams from the fundamental Gaussian mode. Our simulation results reveal how important the control of both the amplitude and the phase difference between superposing beams is to achieving optical vortex beams. The creation of a vortex dipole from null interference is unveiled through the introduction of a lateral shear and a radial phase difference between two out-of-phase Gaussian beams. A stable and high quality optical vortex beam, equivalent to the first-order Laguerre-Gaussian beam, is synthesized by coupling lateral shear with linear phase difference, introduced orthogonal to the shear between two out-of-phase Gaussian beams.

Pressure sensing of Fabry-Perot interferometer with a microchannel demodulated by a FBG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Yongqin; Chen, Xue; Huang, Quandong; Du, Chenlin; Ruan, Shuangchen

2015-07-01

A novel and compact fiber-probe pressure sensor was demonstrated based on micro Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI). The device was fabricated by splicing both ends of a short section simplified hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (SHCPCF) with single mode fibers (SMFs), and then a micro channel was drilled by femtosecond laser micromachining in the SHC-PCF to significantly enhance the pressure sensitivity. The pressure sensing characteristics based on micro-FPI have been investigated by measuring the signals through the demodulation of phase since the external signal imposing on the interferometer will induce the phase change of interference signal. Then a FBG was cascaded to demodulate the signal. A micro FPI demonstrates a maximum pressure sensitivity of 32 dB/MPa, while a low temperature cross-sensitivity of 0.27 KPa/°C. Hence it may have potential for pressure applications in harsh environment.

Proof-of-principle experiment of reference-frame-independent quantum key distribution with phase coding

PubMed Central

Liang, Wen-Ye; Wang, Shuang; Li, Hong-Wei; Yin, Zhen-Qiang; Chen, Wei; Yao, Yao; Huang, Jing-Zheng; Guo, Guang-Can; Han, Zheng-Fu

2014-01-01

We have demonstrated a proof-of-principle experiment of reference-frame-independent phase coding quantum key distribution (RFI-QKD) over an 80-km optical fiber. After considering the finite-key bound, we still achieve a distance of 50 km. In this scenario, the phases of the basis states are related by a slowly time-varying transformation. Furthermore, we developed and realized a new decoy state method for RFI-QKD systems with weak coherent sources to counteract the photon-number-splitting attack. With the help of a reference-frame-independent protocol and a Michelson interferometer with Faraday rotator mirrors, our system is rendered immune to the slow phase changes of the interferometer and the polarization disturbances of the channel, making the procedure very robust. PMID:24402550