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Title: Fizeau wavemeter

Conference · · Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6536795

The Fizeau Wavemeter is a real-time laser-wavelength measuring instrument intended for use with either pulsed or CW lasers. The instrument contains a static Fizeau interferometer which is illuminated by the laser. The fringe pattern of the interferometer is sampled by a 1024 element photodiode array and analyzed by a small computer to determine the wavelength of the illuminating laser. An earlier version of the instrument demonstrated a resolution 10 to the -7th (about 50 MHz in the visible) at a read-out rate of 15 Hz, but suffered from systematic drifts in the calibration. Recent modifications in the software and in the optical system have virtually eliminated sensitivity to fringe amplitude nonuniformity and to wavefront curvature. Temperature sensitivity has been reduced to a level commensurate with the coefficient of thermal expansion of the interferometer spacer.

Research Organization:
National Bureau of Standards, Center for Absolute Physical Quantities, Washington, DC
OSTI ID:
6536795
Report Number(s):
CONF-810429-
Journal Information:
Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng.; (United States), Vol. 288; Conference: LASL conference on optics, Los Alamos, NM, USA, 6 Apr 1981
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English