Two-arm sagnac interferometer with two beam splitters
US6552799B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/171
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus for measuring the physical properties of a sample by optically monitoring the response of the sample to illumination by ultrashort optical pulses. The apparatus is a common path optical interferometer of a Sagnac type that can measure physical properties at normal incidence. The interferometer is a two-arm Sagnac interferometer featuring two beam splitters. Measurement is performed in such a manner that a sample is excited by a beam of ultrashort optical pulses, and variations in intensity and phase of another optical beam are detected. This enables a wide range of measurement of physical properties such as thickness, sound velocity, and thermal properties of substances.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.