Three-dimensional refractively scanning interferometer having removable optical cartridge

An interferometer structure, for an interferometer of the type having two optical arms, comprising:

• a supporting shell having lower and side surfaces adapted to support optical elements of the interferometer;
• a fixed wedge-shaped prism mounted inside the shell, which is supported throughout its vertical dimension by the shell, and which has a beamsplitter coating on its inner-side;
• a movable wedge-shaped prism mounted inside the shell adjacent to the fixed prism, which is supported throughout its vertical dimension by the shell, and which is adapted to move transversely back and forth across one optical arm of the interferometer;
• a first retroreflecting mirror, which is fixedly supported on an inner wall of the supporting shell, and which constitutes the end of one optical arm of the interferometer;
• a second retroreflecting mirror, which is fixedly supported on an inner wall of the supporting shell, and which constitutes the end of the other optical arm of the interferometer;
• a first track, along which the movable wedge-shaped prism travels, which is located below the prism;
• and
• a second track, along which the movable wedge-shaped prism travels, which is located above the prism.

An interferometer structure, for an interferometer of the type having two optical arms, comprising:

• a supporting shell having lower and side surfaces adapted to support optical elements of the interferometer;
• a fixed wedge-shaped prism mounted inside the shell, which is supported throughout its vertical dimension by the shell, and which has a beamsplitter coating on its inner-side;
• a movable wedge-shaped prism mounted inside the shell adjacent to the fixed prism, which is supported throughout its vertical dimension by the shell, and which is adapted to move transversely back and forth across one optical arm of the interferometer;
• a first retroreflecting mirror, which is fixedly supported on an inner wall of the supporting shell, and which constitutes the end of one optical arm of the interferometer;
• a second retroreflecting mirror, which is fixedly supported on an inner wall of the supporting shell, and which constitutes the end of the other optical arm of the interferometer;
• a first supporting plate that carries the first retroreflecting mirror and is tightly secured to a wall of the supporting shell;
• and
• means for adjusting one of the horizontal and vertical positions of the first supporting plate with respect to the wall of the supporting shell before the first plate is tightly secured to the wall.

An interferometer structure, for an interferometer of the type having two optical arms, comprising:

• a generally hollow supporting shell having an open top, and lower and side surfaces for supporting optical elements of the interferometer;
• a cartridge detachably secured in a fixed position within the supporting shell, said cartridge including:
• (i) a fixed wedge-shaped prism supported throughout its vertical dimension by the cartridge, said fixed prism having a beamsplitter coating on its inner side;
• and
• (ii) a movable wedge-shaped prism mounted adjacent to the fixed prism for linear movement transversely across one optical arm of the interferometer;
• a first retroreflecting mirror fixedly supported on an inner wall of the supporting shell, said first mirror constituting the end of one optical arm of the interferometer;
• and
• a second retroreflecting mirror fixedly supported on an inner wall of the supporting shell, said second mirror constituting the end of the other optical arm of the interferometer.

A cartridge assembly for supporting optical elements of an interferometer comprising:

• a centerpiece including a central aperture extending therethrough;
• a first wedge-shaped prism mounted in a first carrier fixedly attached to one side of the centerpiece in a position overlying the central aperture;
• and
• a second wedge-shaped prism mounted in a second carrier supported, from two longitudinally spaced positions on the other side of said centerpiece, for linear movement transversely across the central aperture.

A method of constructing an interferometer structure, comprising:

• forming an optical cartridge from a first wedge-shaped prism fixedly attached to the cartridge such that its vertical dimension is supported by the cartridge and from a second wedge-shaped prism disposed adjacent the first wedge-shaped prism and supported by the cartridge for linear movement in a transverse direction;
• mechanically and optically aligning the first and second wedge-shaped prisms;
• forming a unitary, generally hollow inner shell having an open top, and lower and side supporting surfaces;
• inserting the optical cartridge into the open top of the inner shell and detachably securing the cartridge in a predetermined position inside the inner shell;
• securing two corner cube mirrors to side supporting surfaces of the inner shell;
• forming a unitary outer shell large enough to contain the inner shell;
• placing the inner shell inside the outer shell and securing them together;
• and covering the outer shell to maintain the inner shell in a hermetically sealed environment.