Multi-gigahertz frequency comb-based interferometry using frequency-variable supercontinuum generated by optical pulse synthesizer

Abstract

A multi-gigahertz frequency comb (MGFC)-based interferometer was developed for profilometry and tomography using a frequency variable supercontinuum (SC). The comparatively flattened and broadened SC light source with variable multi-gigahertz interval frequency was developed using an optical pulse synthesizer and highly nonlinear dispersion flattened fiber. The generated SC provided a stable interference output with a full width half maximum of 19 μm during interval frequency sweeping of over 400 MHz. We experimentally confirmed that the interference signal exhibited an envelope-only waveform without fringes, which enabled the drastic reduction of the sampling points resulting in high speed measurement. A full-field 3-D image with 320 × 256 × 300 pixels was acquired with a measurement time of only 10 seconds. It was demonstrated that the MGFC-based interferometer with the novel SC light source has the potential for application in a high speed full-field 3-D metrology.