Low-cost Quadrature Optical Interferometer
Instrumentation and Detectors
2023-01-25 v2 Physics Education
Optics
Abstract
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.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2207.12856,
title = {Low-cost Quadrature Optical Interferometer},
author = {Tanner M. Melody and Krishna H. Patel and Peter K. Nguyen and Christopher L. Smallwood},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2207.12856},
year = {2023}
}
Comments
11 pages, 7 figures