Interferometric Measurement of Angle

INTERFEROMETRIC MEASUREMENT OF ANGLE

With laser interferometer it is possible to measure length to accuracy of 1 part in 106 on a routine basis. With the help of two retro reflectors placed at a fixed distance and a length measuring laser interferometer the change in angle can be measured to an accuracy of 0.1 second. The device uses sine Principle. The line joining the poles the retro-reflectors makes the hypotenuse of the right triangle. The change in the path difference of the reflected beam represents the side of the triangle opposite to the angle being measured. Such laser interferometer can be used to measure an angle up to ± 10 degrees with a resolution of 0. 1 second. The principle of operation is shown in fig.

Fig 4.11 Interferometric Angle Measurement

Laser Equipment for Alignment Testing

This testing is particularly suitable in aircraft production, shipbuilding etc. Where a number of components, spaced long distance apart, have to be checked to a predetermine straight line. Other uses of laser equipment are testing of flatness of machined surfaces, checking square ness with the help of optical square etc. These consist of laser tube will produces a cylindrical beam of laser about 10mm diameter and an auto reflector with a high degree of accuracy. Laser tube consists of helium-neon plasma tube in a heat aluminum cylindrical housing. The laser beam comes out of the housing from its centre and parallel to t stability is the order of 0.2”detectorofhead arcand per read out unit. Number of photocell are arranged to compare laser beam in each half horizontally and vertically. This is housed on a shard which has two adjustments to  translate the detector in its two orthogonal measuring directions perpendicular to the laser beam. The devices detect the alignment of flat surfaces perpendicular to a reference line of sight.