Cyclic shearing interferometer for collimating short coherence-length laser beams

Journal Article · Fri Mar 20 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Applied Optics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.31.001199· OSTI ID:7236855

Henning, T D; Carlsten, J L ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717 (United States)

Until now there has not been an accurate method for measuring the radius of curvature, {ital R}, of a short coherence-length light source, such as a short-pulse or broadband laser. We show that the easily aligned cyclic shearing interferometer (CSI) solves this problem. The CSI produces a stable fringe pattern from which {ital R} can be determined and can be used on beams with short coherence times down to 300 fs because the two beams in the interferometer follow nearly the same path. Comparison with data from a broadband XeCl laser (30-ps coherence time) confirms that the CSI performs as theory predicts.

• OSTI ID: 7236855
• Journal Information: Applied Optics; (United States), Vol. 31:9; ISSN 0003-6935
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
42 ENGINEERING
INTERFEROMETERS
USES
LASER RADIATION
BEAM OPTICS
ALIGNMENT
COLLIMATORS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
RADIATIONS
440600* - Optical Instrumentation- (1990-)
426002 - Engineering- Lasers & Masers- (1990-)