All graphite interferometer bearing assembly
AssigneeThermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC
InventorJohn R. Iverson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An all-graphite interferometer bearing assembly is introduced that allows the movement of a movable mirror in a Michelson interferometer without degradation during use. The assembly includes a stationary hollow graphite tube and a movable assembly which includes a mirror and a monolithic graphite member slidably disposed within the bore of the graphite tube that is composed of the same grade of graphite material as the monolithic graphite member. The result is a robust novel moving mirror arrangement in a Michelson interferometer that enables precise mirror alignment control, a long stroke length, excellent vibration damping and reduced sensitivity to external vibrations.
Claims6
An all-graphite bearing for an interferometer, comprising:
- a base configured with a bore;
- a hollow graphite tube fixedly disposed within said bore;
- and
- a monolithic graphite member disposed within said hollow graphite tube and manufactured from the same grade graphite material as said hollow graphite tube, said monolithic graphite member having an end coupled to a reflective surface, wherein said monolithic graphite member is additionally configured for slidable movement parallel to the central axis of said hollow graphite tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.