Generate Interference Fringes Research Articles

Parallel processing for multiplication modulo by means of phase modulation

We apply optical parallel processing to operations for multiplication modulo, which is one of the key components of a factorization algorithm. With this method, optical phase modulation provides the results of modulo operations. We construct a prototype system based on a Michelson interferometer with a photodetector array. Mirrors are set at both object and reference arms to generate interference fringes. A mirror in the object arm is tilted slightly, whereas the reference arm is set perpendicular to the optical axis. The tilt angle is determined by parameters for the target modulo operations. The presented system can achieve massive data processing in parallel with only simple implementation. We present our experimental results to verify the usefulness of our method.

A traveling-wave THz photomixer based on angle-tuned phase matching

A traveling-wave THz photomixer based on a free-space optical-THz phase-matching scheme is proposed. A dc-biased coplanar strip line fabricated on low-temperature-grown GaAs serves as the active area of the device, and is illuminated by two noncollinear laser beams which generate interference fringes that are accompanied by THz waves. The device with the laser-power-handling capability over 300 mW and a 3-dB bandwidth of 1.8 THz was experimentally demonstrated. The results show that traveling-wave photomixers have the potential to surpass small-area designs.

Sagnac experiment with electrons: Reanalysis of a rotationally induced phase shift for charged particles

Using a path-integral formalism, we present a reanalysis of the Sagnac experiment with electrons of Hasselbach and Nicklaus [Phys. Rev. A 48, 143 (1993)]. Our analysis, from an inertial frame of reference, makes explicit the central role of the electrostatic biprism in generating interference fringes and recovers the Sagnac formula for the phase shift induced when rotating the interferometer. This phase shift, however, is shown to differ significantly in physical origin from the similar experiment with neutrons. In the electron Sagnac experiment, rotation displaces all classical electron paths closer to (or further from, depending upon direction) the electrostatic biprisms, thereby perturbing the electrostatic potential along these paths, and a phase shift of an electrostatic nature arises. Our analysis yields a corrected expression for the projected area of the interferometer and small numerical corrections to previous work are consequently given.

Ultra-precision Positioning By Using Coherence of White Light

In this paper, a new positioning method with incoherence of white light is described and practically implemented to attach VCR heads on a drum very accurately. This method utilizes the Michelson Interferometer which uses white light with short coherence length as the light source to generate interference fringes only in case the optical path difference is shorter than about 2.mu.m. The course position of VCR heads and the fine are determined by appearance and visibility of interference fringes, respectively. The appearance are detected by an image processing technique using FFT(Fast Fourier Transform).

High-accuracy measurement of air refractive index using two frequency-doubling crystals

A simple method is presented for measuring the refractive index of air, which uses two frequency-doubling crystals as optical components of an interferometer. It is based on a two-colour method utilizing a fundamental wave of a laser-diode-pumped YAG laser and its second-harmonic wave. Their waves are input into another frequency-doubling crystal for generating interference fringes. The refractive index of air is measured with a resolution better than 1 × 10 -7 at a travelling distance near 50 cm.

Aging and neural spatial contrast sensitivity: Photopic vision

This study investigated the extent to which older adults' loss in spatial contrast sensitivity at a photopic level is attributable to neural changes in the aged visual system. Laser interferometry was used to generate interference fringes which bypass the optics of the eye in presenting a grating target on the retina. Older adults in good eye health exhibited on average a small but statistically significant loss (0.1–0.2 log unit) in contrast sensitivity across the spatial frequency range tested, although there was considerable overlap between young and old adults. This loss in contrast sensitivity for interference fringes accounted for less than half of the photopic contrast sensitivity loss at higher frequencies reported for older adults in studies using conventional direct-viewing techniques in which the optics of the aged eye are not bypassed. We conclude that neural changes in the aged visual system have a rather minor contribution to older adults' loss in spatial contrast sensitivity at a photopic level.

Optical system for detecting acoustic wave energy in a fluid medium

An optical sound source signature transducer system for use in marine seismic exploration in which coherent radiation from a laser is coupled to unequal length optical paths exposed to modulation by the acoustic energy wave generated by the sound source. The reflected beams from the paths are crosscoupled to generate interference fringes in two output beams out of phase with each other. The fringes in one output beam are counted in an up/down counter to determine the magnitude of the pressure as a function of time. The direction of the pressure change is determined by examination of the phase relationship between the fringes in the output beams. Peaks and valleys in the pressure are detected as phase reversals between the fringes in the output beams be detecting the beginning and end of a fringe in one beam without detecting the beginning or end of a fringe in the other beam therebetween. The direction of counting of the counter is reversed upon detection of a peak or valley in the modulating pressure to maintain the count as an accurate representation of the magnitude of the pressure.

An interference technique for measuring the thickness of semi‐thin and thick sections

SUMMARYAn interference method is described for measuring section thickness in the range 0·3–45 μm. An incident illumination objective incorporating a beam splitter and adjustable reference mirror is used to generate interference fringes by reflection from the upper surfaces of sections on glass slides. Sections do not require a reflective coating. The lateral displacement of the zero‐order fringe generated using white light is measured in terms of sodium light fringes and photographic enlargement of the fringes allows measurement to ± 30 nm. The method is simple in operation and allows rapid assessment of any local distortions over the entire section area.

Proposed Very Long Baseline Interferometry at 103 MHz in India

Three radio telescopes operating at 103 MHz are being installed at Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Surat separated by about 200 km from each other for observing interplanetary scintillations (IPS) of compact radio sources for study of solar wind plasma dynamics as well as radio source size measurements for cosmological studies. Of these, two radio telescopes at Ahmedabad and Rajkot have been commissioned and started synchronous daily observations of IPS of a few compact radio sources with relative time accuracy of about ± 1 millisec. The third telescope at Surat is expected to go in operation by the end of 1983. As soon as all the three telescopes go in for simultaneous operation, it is proposed to (1) augment the telescope sensitivity so as to detect sources with flux density ~ 1 Jansky (2) incorporate better time and frequency standards at each station which can be synchronised to better than μs relative time accuracy (3) develop suitable receivers and data acquisition system for generating interference fringes using a general purpose computer and (4) take advantage of the availability of three telescopes to incorporate ‘closure phase and amplitude’ techniques which eliminate undesirable atmospheric and ionospheric phase distortions.