Method and apparatus for coherence observation by interference noise
US5805282A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 8, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J9/02
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides a method for performing interference measurements by observation of interference noise, including the steps of splitting an energy beam from an energy source into two beams directed into two different arms of an interferometer; using variable delay-generating means to introduce a path difference between the two arms; introducing a variable phase difference between the two arms, and recombining the two energy beams into a single beam. There is also provided an apparatus including a beam splitter in which an energy beam from an energy source is split into two arms, a variable delay unit in which a variable delay is imposed on one of the two arms, a constant delay unit imposing a constant delay on the other one of the two arms, and a recombiner in which the two arms are recombined to form a single output beam. A phase randomizer is interposed between the constant delay unit or the variable delay unit and the recombiner, to introduce a variable phase difference between the two arms.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.