paper

A single-lens universal interferometer: Towards a class of frugal optical devices

arXiv:1909.09340 · doi:10.1063/1.5108587

Abstract

The application of precision interferometers is generally restricted to expensive and smooth high-quality surfaces. Here, we offer a route to ultimate miniaturization of interferometer by integrating beam splitter, reference mirror and light collector into a single optical element, an interference lens (iLens), which produces stable high-contrast fringes from in situ surface of paper, wood, plastic, rubber, unpolished metal, human skin, etc. A self-referencing real-time precision of sub-20 picometer (~ lambda/30000) is demonstrated with simple intensity detection under ambient conditions. The principle of iLens interferometry has been exploited to build a variety of compact devices, such as a paper-based optical pico-balance, having 1000 times higher sensitivity and speed, when compared with a high-end seven-digit electronic balance. Furthermore, we used cloth, paper, polymer-films to readily construct broadband acoustic sensors possessing matched or higher sensitivity when compared with piezo and electromagnetic sensors. Our work opens path for affordable yet ultra-precise frugal photonic devices and universal micro-interferometers for imaging.

arXiv commentThis article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and AIP Publishing. This article appeared in (P. Munjal & K. P. Singh, Appl. Phys. Lett., 115(11), 111102, (2019) (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5108587))

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