Low-cost Quadrature Optical Interferometer

Bibliographic Details
Title: Low-cost Quadrature Optical Interferometer
Authors: Melody, Tanner M., Patel, Krishna H., Nguyen, Peter K., Smallwood, Christopher L.
Source: American Journal of Physics 91, 132-141 (2023)
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: Physics (Other)
Subject Terms: Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Physics - Physics Education, Physics - Optics
More Details: We report on the construction and characterization of a low-cost Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer in which quadrature signal detection is achieved by means of polarization control. The device incorporates a generic green laser pointer, home-built photodetectors, 3D-printed optical mounts, a circular polarizer extracted from a pair of 3D movie glasses, and a Python-enabled microcontroller for analog-to-digital data acquisition. Components fit inside of a 12"x6" space and can be assembled on a budget of less than US\$500. The device has the potential to make quadrature interferometry accessible and affordable for instructors, students, and enthusiasts alike.
Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures
Document Type: Working Paper
DOI: 10.1119/5.0110405
Access URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2207.12856
Accession Number: edsarx.2207.12856
Database: arXiv
More Details
DOI:10.1119/5.0110405