Smart Laser Interferometer with Electrically Tunable Lenses for Flow Velocity Measurements through Disturbing Interfaces

Interferometric velocity measurements are of great importance at flow investigations. However, the laser beams can be distorted at the interfaces between optical media of different refractive indices. Temporal fluctuations of these distortions will cause a deterioration of the laser interferometer s...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jürgen W. Czarske, Hannes Radner, Christoph Leithold, Lars Büttner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-01-01
Series:Photonics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/2/1/1
Description
Summary:Interferometric velocity measurements are of great importance at flow investigations. However, the laser beams can be distorted at the interfaces between optical media of different refractive indices. Temporal fluctuations of these distortions will cause a deterioration of the laser interferometer signals. We have harnessed the power of programmable photonics devices to eliminate this signal deterioration. Non-invasive flow velocity measurements through a rapidly fluctuating media interface with large strokes of about 100 microns are presented. Our work represents a paradigm shift for interferometric velocity measurement techniques from using static to dynamic optical elements.
ISSN:2304-6732