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Differential schlieren-interferometry with a simple adjustable Wollaston-like prism.
Matthew M Biss1, Gary S Settles, Matthew E Staymates
1Gas Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. mmb290@psu.edu
Applied Optics
|January 22, 2008
Summary
This study presents an adjustable polycarbonate prism for shearing and differential schlieren-interferometry. The prism mimics a Wollaston prism, offering adjustable beam divergence for optical systems.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Traditional Wollaston prisms are essential for birefringent beam splitting.
- Shearing and differential schlieren-interferometry require precise control over beam divergence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize an adjustable Wollaston-like prism made of polycarbonate for shearing and differential schlieren-interferometry.
- To demonstrate its performance with both laser and white-light illumination.
Main Methods:
- Mechanical loading was applied to a polycarbonate prism to induce birefringence.
- The prism's performance was evaluated in shearing-interferometry setups, replacing the conventional knife-edge.
- Light-beam-divergence angles were measured under varying bending moments.
Main Results:
- The polycarbonate prism exhibited behavior identical to a classical Wollaston prism under mechanical load.
- A linear relationship was established between applied bending moment and beam-divergence angle.
- Adjustable beam divergence was achieved over a range of 0-24 arc minutes.
Conclusions:
- The developed polycarbonate prism is an effective and inexpensive alternative for shearing and differential schlieren-interferometry.
- Its adjustable nature provides flexibility in optical system design and performance tuning.
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