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A laser unequal path interferometer for the optical shop.

J B Houston¹, C J Buccini, P K O'Neill

¹Itek Corporation, Lexington, Massachusetts, USA.

|January 12, 2010

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A novel laser unequal path interferometer enhances optical shop testing. This portable device accurately tests large optical components, including aspheric surfaces, without physical contact, improving efficiency and precision.

Area of Science:

Optical Engineering
Metrology
Laser Technology

Background:

Traditional optical testing methods can be limited by path length and physical contact requirements.
The integration of laser technology offers potential for enhanced precision and versatility in optical metrology.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce a modified Twyman-Green interferometer utilizing a helium-neon laser for advanced optical shop testing.
To demonstrate the capability of testing large optical components and systems with high accuracy over extended path differences.

Main Methods:

A modified Twyman-Green interferometer incorporating a continuous-wave (cw) helium-neon gas laser was developed.
The system utilizes auxiliary lenses for long paths and a small reference flat for short paths, enabling testing over large path differences.

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The laser unequal path interferometer was employed with null lenses for aspheric surface qualification.

Main Results:

The technique achieved an accuracy of 1/10 wavelength at the surface when testing f/0.7 spherical mirrors at their center of curvature.
Spherical concave surfaces and various optical systems were successfully tested in both double and single pass configurations.
The device demonstrated portability and the ability to test under diverse environmental conditions and orientations.

Conclusions:

The laser unequal path interferometer provides a non-contact method for testing large optical components and systems with high precision.
This versatile and portable instrument expands the capabilities of optical shop testing, particularly for aspheric surfaces.
The developed technique offers significant advantages in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability for optical metrology.