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Laser Heterodyne Interferometry and Polarimetry

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Laser Heterodyning

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Optical Sciences ((SSOS,volume 149))

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Abstract

In August of 1970, the Hewlett-Packard technical journal announced a new product: a laser heterodyne interferometer system based on Zeeman two-frequency laser [1]. Through past three decades, the system concept became de facto a standard for precise distance measurement systems, and the laser itself has found numerous applications not only in industry but in scientific research as well. Today, Zeeman lasers are available from two manufacturers: Agilent (the Hewlett-Packard lasers) and Wavetronics [2]. Availability of an inexpensive stable and versatile tool such as the Zeeman two-frequency cross-polarized laser inspired invention of new research areas where heterodyne technology provided new solutions to previous problems. Therefore, prior to addressing the subject of the chapter itself, it is necessary to explain the Zeeman laser functionality. The scheme of the laser is outlined in Fig. 5.1.

Phenomenologically, the Zeeman laser is a low-power He–Ne laser with axially applied magnetic field and a feedback for frequency stabilization. In this type of lasers, Zeeman magnetic splitting of emission line creates two independent orthogonally polarized output waves at the wavelength 633nm with frequency split of about several megahertz. It is of a primary importance that the two independent waves are of the same mode structure and travel same paths, experiencing same optical heterogeneities, and therefore, are supposed to have identical wavefronts. Frequency shift between them originates from tiny difference in refraction indices of active medium for the left- and righthand circularly polarized waves due to Zeeman effect. Both the frequency and the amplitude stabilization is performed by comparing intensities of the two waves, traveling inside the laser cavity. These waves, originally circularly polarized inside the cavity, are transformed into linearly polarized waves with the help of a quarter wave plate (QWP) and split into two at the polarizing beam splitter (PBS). Photodetectors PD1 and PD2 measure intensities of the two waves, and the differential signal controls the current through the heating coil, maintaining the length of the laser cavity so as to equalize intensities of the two components. Equal intensities correspond to constant frequency shift between the waves if only magnetic field is constant. Stability of the magnetic field is very important for stability of the frequency. For example, any massive magnetic parts on the optical table, positioned close to the laser, may significantly change its frequency shift.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Mechatronics Center, 416 Maetan-dong, Yeongton-gu, 443-742, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea

    Dr. Vladimir V. Protopopov

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Correspondence to Vladimir V. Protopopov .

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Protopopov, V.V. (2009). Laser Heterodyne Interferometry and Polarimetry. In: Laser Heterodyning. Springer Series in Optical Sciences, vol 149. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02338-5_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02338-5_5

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