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US 7,009,708 B1Granted
Symmetric periscope for concentric beam configuration in an ultra-high precision laser interferometric beam launcher
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorLawrence L. Ames
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical component especially suited for common path heterodyne interferometry comprises a symmetric dual-periscope configuration. Each periscope is substantially identical to the other with regard to certain design aspects. The resulting design is an optical component that is highly stable with variations in temperature and angular deviations.
Claims20
In an interferometer device configured for a common path heterodyne mode of operation, an optical component comprising:
- a first arrangement of reflective surfaces configured to receive a source beam and to produce therefrom a measurement beam and a reference beam, said measurement beam being directed to a target along a first propagation path, said reference beam being directed along a second propagation path;
- and
- a second arrangement of reflective surfaces configured to receive as a return beam said measurement beam reflected from said target and to direct said return beam along a portion of said second propagation path to reassemble said return beam and said reference beam,
- said first arrangement of reflective surfaces comprising at least a first surface in substantially parallel relation to at least a second surface and spaced apart therefrom by a distance D,
- said second arrangement of reflective surfaces comprising at least a third surface in substantially parallel relation to at least a fourth surface and spaced apart therefrom by a distance substantially equal to D,
- said first arrangement of reflective surfaces being in substantially parallel relation to said second arrangement of reflective surfaces.
3 more elements
An interferometer having an optical component, said optical component comprising:
- a double-sided mirror having a first surface on which a first mirror and a second mirror are formed, and a second surface on which a third mirror is formed, said double-sided mirror having a first opening formed between said first surface and said second surface and through said second mirror;
- a fourth mirror in substantially parallel relation to said first and second mirrors and spaced apart therefrom by a distance D, said fourth mirror in alignment with respect to said first mirror to receive light reflected from said first mirror, said fourth mirror further in alignment with said second mirror to direct light reflected from said fourth mirror to said second mirror;
- and
- a fifth mirror in alignment with respect to said third mirror to receive light reflected from said third mirror, said fifth mirror in substantially parallel relation to said third mirror and spaced apart therefrom by a distance substantially equal to D,
- said fifth mirror in alignment with said first opening to direct light reflected from said fifth mirror through said first opening.
2 more elements
An optical component of an interferometer comprising:
- a first periscope comprising at least a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, and configured to receive a source beam and to produce a reference beam and a measurement beam from said source beam, said measurement beam being directed to a target;
- and
- a second periscope comprising at least a third reflective surface and a fourth reflective surface, and configured to receive said measurement beam reflected from said target as a returning measurement beam,
- a spatial relationship between said first and second reflective surfaces being substantially the same as a spatial relationship between said third and fourth reflective surfaces,
- said first periscope in substantially parallel alignment with said second periscope,
- said first periscope in alignment with said second periscope to define a beam path along which both said returning measurement beam and said reference beam propagate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.