Estimation of the sensitivity of optical measurements using a holographic interferometer

Abstract

Various interferometers used for high-precision spectroscopic measurements are considered, and the choice of a holographic interferometer based on the spatial-spectral method of holographic interferometry is justified, with the help of which the movements of the phase center of a coherent light flux in a wide dynamic range are measured in real time and measurement information is recorded digitally. On the basis of mathematical relations proposed by the authors in previous publications and based on the results of experimental studies, the sensitivity of a holographic interferometer to spatial displacements of phase centers (focus points) of light streams – point light sources forming a holographic interferogram is numerically estimated. The dependence of the level of the normalized intensity of the luminous flux in the central region of the holographic interferogram on the movement of the actual point light source along the normal to the plane of the Fourier hologram is established. Based on the results of mathematical modeling, it is shown that the sensitivity of the holographic interferometer to the movements of a real point light source along the normal to the plane of the Fourier hologram depends on the parameters of the optical scheme of the holographic interferometer when exposing the hologram and during measurements. At the same time, the sensitivity of the holographic interferometer to the indicated displacements of a real point light source can only be evaluated experimentally. It is proposed to increase the sensitivity of the holographic interferometer by using a thin collecting lens in its optical scheme. For the first time, a mathematical relation was obtained and investigated for the gain coefficient of the light flux phase with a spherical wavefront, which makes it possible to numerically estimate the increase in sensitivity of a holographic interferometer implementing the spatial-spectral method of holographic interferometry with known parameters of a thin collecting lens in an optical scheme. It is shown that the sensitivity of a holographic interferometer to the movements of an imaginary point light source along the normal to the plane of the Fourier hologram is 2.86 times greater than its sensitivity to the same movements of a real point light source. It is established that the sensitivity of a holographic interferometer with a volumetric Fourier hologram and a thin collecting lens in its design can be increased by at least an order of magnitude compared to the sensitivity of known optical interferometers. The results of assessing the sensitivity of a holographic interferometer implementing the spatial-spectral method of holographic interferometry to the movements of point sources of real and imaginary light fluxes, as well as the obtained ratio for the gain of the light flux phase gain by a thin collecting lens will be useful for high-precision measurements of linear and angular displacements of objects, as well as for the construction of photonic device designs. Based on the results of the study, an experimental sample of an acousto-electric converter was developed and manufactured on the basis of a holographic interferometer, which has high sensitivity in wide dynamic and frequency ranges and is intended for use in acoustic location of unmanned aerial vehicles.