A novel vibration sensor based on the near-field Talbot effect

Abstract

Abstract A novel technique for vibration measurement is proposed using the near-field Talbot effect. The sensor is based on monitoring intensity modulation of interference patterns deviated from that at the Talbot distance. To achieve high sensitivity to mechanical vibrations, an asymmetric grating is employed to provide a small grating open fraction. Our theoretical outcomes show that the sensor resolution can be at micro and even nano scales. This practical vibration sensor can be useful in metrology and many industrial applications.