Laser heterodyne surface profiler
Abstract
Method and apparatus for testing the deviation of the face of an object from a flat smooth surface using a laser beam having two plane-polarized components, one of a frequency greater than the other to produce a difference frequency with a phase to be used as a reference. The beam also is split into its two components which are directed onto spaced apart points on the face of the object. The object is rotated on an axis coincident with one component as a reference. The other component follows a circular track on the face of the object as the object is rotated. The two components are recombined after reflection to produce a difference frequency having a phase that is shifted in an amount that is proportional to the difference in path length as compared to the reference phase to produce an electrical output signal proportional to the deviation of the height of the surface along the circular track. The output signal is generated by means of a phase detector that includes a first photodetector in the path of the recombined components and a second photodetector in the path of the reference phase. The output signal is dependent on the phasemore »
- Inventors:
-
- Livermore, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865065
- Patent Number(s):
- 4456339
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01B - MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01J - MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- laser; heterodyne; surface; profiler; method; apparatus; testing; deviation; flat; smooth; beam; plane-polarized; components; frequency; produce; difference; phase; reference; split; directed; spaced; apart; rotated; axis; coincident; component; follows; circular; track; recombined; reflection; shifted; amount; proportional; path; length; compared; electrical; output; signal; height; generated; means; detector; photodetector; dependent; signals; polarizer; quarter-wave; plate; half-wave; series; rotation; adjustment; 360; degree; range; initial; calibration; circular track; laser heterodyne; surface profile; phase difference; signal proportional; smooth surface; path length; laser beam; output signal; spaced apart; electrical output; difference frequency; surface profiler; detector signal; flat smooth; heterodyne surface; wave plate; plane-polarized components; /359/
Citation Formats
Sommargren, Gary E. Laser heterodyne surface profiler. United States: N. p., 1984.
Web.
Sommargren, Gary E. Laser heterodyne surface profiler. United States.
Sommargren, Gary E. Sun .
"Laser heterodyne surface profiler". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865065.
@article{osti_865065,
title = {Laser heterodyne surface profiler},
author = {Sommargren, Gary E},
abstractNote = {Method and apparatus for testing the deviation of the face of an object from a flat smooth surface using a laser beam having two plane-polarized components, one of a frequency greater than the other to produce a difference frequency with a phase to be used as a reference. The beam also is split into its two components which are directed onto spaced apart points on the face of the object. The object is rotated on an axis coincident with one component as a reference. The other component follows a circular track on the face of the object as the object is rotated. The two components are recombined after reflection to produce a difference frequency having a phase that is shifted in an amount that is proportional to the difference in path length as compared to the reference phase to produce an electrical output signal proportional to the deviation of the height of the surface along the circular track. The output signal is generated by means of a phase detector that includes a first photodetector in the path of the recombined components and a second photodetector in the path of the reference phase. The output signal is dependent on the phase difference of the two photodetector signals. A polarizer, a quarter-wave plate and a half-wave plate are in series in the path of the reference phase. Rotation of the half-wave plate can be used for phase adjustment over a full 360.degree. range for initial calibration of the apparatus.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984}
}