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14 pages, 4295 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

ZEMAX Simulations and Experimental Validation of Laser Interferometers

by Muddasir Naeem and Tayyab Imran

Photonics 2025, 12(3), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics12030206 - 27 Feb 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1704

This study presents the design, simulation, and experimental validation of six fundamental laser interferometer types: Sagnac, Mach–Zehnder, Michelson, Twyman–Green, Fizeau, and Fabry–Pérot. Using ZEMAX OpticStudio in non-sequential mode with the physical optics propagation (POP) algorithm, the simulations provide detailed insights into the optical performance of these interferometers. A direct comparison is made between the simulated and experimental fringe patterns, coherent irradiance distributions, and phase plots, demonstrating strong agreement and validating the accuracy of computational modeling for interferometric analysis. The Mach–Zehnder and Michelson configurations exhibit high adaptability and measurement precision, while the Fabry–Pérot interferometer achieves superior spectral resolution. Twyman–Green interferometry proves particularly effective in mapping surface irregularities for optical testing. The results confirm the reliability of ZEMAX OpticStudio for high-precision optical system design and analysis. The novelty of this work lies in the comparative study between ZEMAX simulations and experimental interferometric results, particularly fringe patterns and phase distributions. This approach provides a clearer understanding of interferometer performance and enhances the accuracy of optical metrology, offering valuable insights for both theoretical modeling and practical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Interferometric Optics and Applications)

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23 pages, 14241 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Control of Chemoconvection in a Rectangular Slot by Changing Its Spatial Orientation

by Elena Mosheva, Ramil Siraev and Dmitry Bratsun

Fluids 2023, 8(3), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids8030098 - 9 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1550

Abstract

Recently, we found that a two-layer miscible system placed in a vertical slab reactor shows an occurrence of a density shock-wave-like pattern. This wave resembles a turbulent bore separating immobile fluid and an area of intense mixing. It travels away from the convective core of the system and is highly dependent on the intensity of a gravity-dependent chemoconvection in the cocurrent flow. The novelty of this work is that we demonstrate that the change in angle between gravity and wave direction allows controlling the chemoconvection intensity and, consequently, the rate of a spatially-extended reaction. We study both experimentally and numerically the effect of the spatial orientation of a slab reactor to a gravity field on a flow structure induced by a neutralization reaction. In experiments, we use aqueous mixtures of nitric acid and sodium hydroxide. We apply the Fizeau interferometry to visualize the flow and use the PIV method to measure the fluid velocity. The mathematical model includes reaction–diffusion–convection equations that describe 3D flows. We study the flow modifications with a change in the inclination angle from 0 to 90 degrees. At small angles (up to 30), the cocurrent flow becomes spatially heterogeneous, and the fields of salt and acid are separated. If the inclination exceeds 50 degrees, the wavefront is deformed, and the wave breaks up, resulting in a sharp decrease in the reaction rate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Heat and Mass Transfer)

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11 pages, 3345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dimensional Stability of Mirror Substrates Made of Silicon Particle Reinforced Aluminum

by Jan Kinast, Andreas Tünnermann and Andreas Undisz

Materials 2022, 15(9), 2998; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15092998 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2305

Abstract

In the present study, the thermal cycling stability of mirrors made of silicon particle reinforced aluminum compounds, containing an amount of 42 ± 2 wt.% silicon particles, is investigated with respect to thermal loading. The compound is processed by single-point diamond turning to optical mirrors that were subsequently thermally cycled in a temperature range between 40 °C to −60 °C and between 20 °C and −196 °C, respectively. The residual shape change of the optical surface was analyzed using Fizeau interferometry at room temperature. The change of shape deviation of the mirrors is compared with dilatometric studies of cylinders using the same temperature regime. Due to different coefficients of thermal expansion of the two constituents of the compound, thermal mismatch stresses in the ductile aluminum matrix and the brittle silicon particles are induced by the investigated thermal loads. The plasticity that occurs causes the formation of dislocations and stacking faults as substantiated by Transmission Electron Microscopy. It could be shown that the silicon particles lead to the cold working process of the reinforced aluminum matrix upon thermal cycling. By using interferometry, a higher dimensional stability of mirrors made of silicon particle reinforced aluminum due to thermal loads is demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Metallurgical and Materials Engineering)

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11 pages, 1765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Broadband Variable Transmission Sphere for Fizeau Interferometry

by Jonathan Koerber, Glenn D. Boreman and Thomas J. Suleski

Optics 2022, 3(1), 88-98; https://doi.org/10.3390/opt3010011 - 10 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2949

Abstract

Transmission spheres used in interferometry are specified by f-number and source wavelength. In this paper, we explore a broadband variable transmission sphere (BVTS) system based on freeform Alvarez lenses that enables variable operation across a broad range of f-numbers and wavelengths. Potential applications and performance tradeoffs are discussed in comparison to conventional spherical transmission spheres. Simulation results are presented for f/15 to f/80 configurations from visible to long-wave infrared sources in a Fizeau interferometer. Simulation results highlight that spherical, coma, and astigmatism impose limits on surface measurement quality. Full article

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10 pages, 2784 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Single-Shot On-Axis Fizeau Polarization Phase-Shifting Digital Holography for Complex-Valued Dynamic Object Imaging

by Hanzi Liu, Vinu R. V., Hongliang Ren, Xingpeng Du, Ziyang Chen and Jixiong Pu

Photonics 2022, 9(3), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics9030126 - 23 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3825

Abstract

Digital holography assisted with inline phase-shifting methods has the benefit of a large field of view and a high resolution, but it is limited in dynamic imaging due to sequential detection of multiple holograms. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate a single-shot phase-shifting digital holography system based on a highly stable on-axis Fizeau-type polarization interferometry. The compact on-axis design of the system with the capability of instantaneous recording of multiple phase-shifted holograms and with robust stability features makes the technique a novel tool for the imaging of complex-valued dynamic objects. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated experimentally by complex field imaging of various kinds of reflecting-type static and dynamic objects. Moreover, a quantitative analysis on the robust phase stability and sensitivity of the technique is evaluated by comparing the approach with conventional phase-shifting methods. The high phase stability and dynamic imaging potential of the technique are expected to make the system an ideal tool for quantitative phase imaging and real-time imaging of dynamic samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Instrumentation)

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14 pages, 5054 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Algorithm for Surfaces Profiles and Thickness Variation Measurement of a Transparent Plate Using a Fizeau Interferometer with Wavelength Tuning

by Tao Sun, Weiwei Zheng, Yingjie Yu, Ketao Yan, Anand Asundi and Sergiy Valukh

Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(11), 2349; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9112349 - 7 Jun 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4035

Abstract

An interferogram obtained from a transparent plate contains information on the profiles of both surfaces and on the thickness variation. The present work is devoted to the processing of interferograms of this type. The processing technique is based on a 36-step algorithm developed by the authors for characterization of transparent plates having approximately equal reflections from both sides. The algorithm utilizes weighted multi-step phase shifting that enables one not only separately to extract the front and rear surface profiles together with the thickness variation of the tested plate but also to suppress the coupling errors between the higher harmonics and phase-shift deviation. The proposed measuring method was studied on a wavelength tunable Fizeau interferometer. The tested sample had an optical thickness and surface profile deviations equal to 0.51 µm, 1.38 µm and 0.89 µm, respectively. According to the results obtained using 10 repeated measurements, the root mean square (RMS) errors for determining both surface profiles did not exceed 1.5 nm. Experimental results show that the setup and presented 36-step algorithm are suitable for the measurement of a transparent plate of arbitrary thickness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Precision Dimensional Measurements)

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