Rotation angle measurement based on white-light interferometry with a standard optical flat

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Metrology
• Interferometry

Background:

• Accurate measurement of rotation angles is crucial in various scientific and industrial applications.
• Traditional methods may have limitations in precision or complexity.
• Optical interferometry offers a high-precision measurement approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple and accurate white-light interferometric method for measuring one-dimensional rotation angles.
• To utilize the phase change in an interference pattern for angle determination.
• To demonstrate the method's effectiveness over a specific angle range.

Main Methods:

• A white-light interferometer was employed.
• An optical plane parallel plate with a standard refractive index was placed in one arm of the interferometer.
• The phase change of the interference pattern during the plate's rotation was analyzed.
• The rotation angle was determined based on the observed phase shift.

Main Results:

• The proposed method successfully measured one-dimensional rotation angles.
• Accurate angle measurements were achieved over a range from 0° to 40°.
• The maximum uncertainty in the angle measurement was found to be 0.057°.

Conclusions:

• The developed white-light interferometric method provides a simple yet accurate means for rotation angle measurement.
• The technique is suitable for applications requiring precise angular determination within the demonstrated range.
• The use of a standard optical plate simplifies the experimental setup.