Thermo-optic coefficient measurement systems

A thermo-optic coefficient measurement system, comprising:

• a housing structure configured to retain at least a first plate sample, a second plate sample, and a third plate sample in a stacked, alternating stagger arrangement such that:
• a first gap exists between the first plate sample and the third plate sample that is the thickness of the second plate sample;
• and
• a portion of the second plate sample forms an overhang that extends past outer edges of the first plate and the second plate, such that a second gap exists between the housing and the portion of the second plate sample;
• a first optical device connected to the housing to output a first laser configured to be coincident with the first plate sample, the third plate sample, and the first gap, the first optical device configured to receive a first return signal;
• a second optical device connected to the housing to output a second laser configured to be coincident with the portion of the second plate sample that forms the overhang, such that the second laser is oriented so as to pass through the overhang portion of the second plate but through neither the first plate nor the third plate, the second optical device configured to receive a second return signal;
• and
• an optical interrogator module configured to be connected to the first optical device to output the first laser thereto and to receive the first return signal therefrom, the optical interrogator configured to be connected to the second optical device to output the second laser thereto and to receive the second return signal therefrom, wherein the optical interrogator module is configured to determine a thermo-optical coefficient as a function of the first return signal and the second return signal at a plurality of temperatures.