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Periodic optical delay line based on a tilted parabolic generatrix helicoid reflective mirror
Yuebin Wang1, Changlei Wang, Qirong Xing
1Center for Terahertz Waves, Ultrafast Laser Laboratory, College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Key Laboratory of Opto-Electronics Information and Technical Science, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
Applied Optics
|April 14, 2009
Summary
Researchers developed a novel periodic optical delay line (ODL) using a unique helicoid mirror. This device achieves a 100 ps delay range, offering high performance for various optical experiments.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Optical Engineering
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Accurate control of optical path length is crucial for advanced optical experiments.
- Existing optical delay lines (ODLs) can have limitations in scanning range and linearity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and test a novel linear scanning periodic optical delay line (ODL).
- To evaluate the performance of a helicoid reflective mirror-based ODL for optical applications.
Main Methods:
- Designed a periodic ODL using a helicoid reflective mirror driven by an electrical motor.
- Simulated beam divergence and pulse front distortion using differential geometry.
- Tested the ODL in a second-harmonic generation autocorrelator against a motorized linear translation stage ODL.
Main Results:
- Achieved a scanning range of 100 ps with a round-trip pass arrangement.
- Demonstrated the linearity and temporal resolution of the helicoid ODL.
- The helicoid ODL showed comparable or superior performance to a traditional motorized linear translation stage ODL.
Conclusions:
- The novel helicoid optical delay device offers exceptional performance.
- This ODL is suitable for optical interference, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, and pump-probe experiments.
- The design provides a new method for precise optical path length modulation.
