Determination of optical constants for thin-walled glass cell based on Haidinger fringes

Abstract

A validated method based on Haidinger fringes has been proposed to measure the optical constants for thin-walled glass cells. The method can significantly enhance measurement accuracy by utilizing the reflected spectrum to determine the optical constants of the sample. The reflected light off the inner and the outer surfaces of the cell combined together and formed the interferential pattern (Haidinger fringes) detected by the photodiodes. Taking into account that the sample in our experiment is a sealed cell, we deliberately set the incident angle to a non-zero value. First, the measurement principle has been analyzed, and subsequently, the relevant experimental platform has been established. To reduce random errors, we recalibrated the relationship between the frequency of the laser and the operating temperature. Furthermore, the incident angle has been accurately estimated using the method of non-linear least squares. Finally, the weighted average, considering correlated uncertainties for all measurements, is 1.873 ± 0.005 016 mm, which showcases clear advantages over conventional mechanical methods that risk potential damages.