Sandwich, double-reference-wave, holographic, phase-shift interferometry

Phase-shift interferometry has provided a straightforward method for converting interferograms to phase maps. Unfortunately, some of the most powerful pulsed holographic interferometry techniquesare generally not compatible with phase-shift interferometry. One solution is to employ two reference waves, one for each of the two object waves to be interfered, that can be phase stepped during reconstruction. Practical aberration and alignment problems render this approach difficult. A simple method that employs a second hologram, sandwiched with the first, which produces the required two reference waves during reconstruction, is presented. The process compensates for both chromatic and geometric aberrations that otherwise render the phase-shift method unusable.     

Real-time color holographic interferometry

A new optical technique based on real-time color holographic interferometry has been developed for analyzing unsteady aerodynamic wakes in fluid mechanics or for measuring displacements and deformations in solid mechanics. The technique's feasibility is demonstrated here. It uses three coherent wavelengths produced simultaneously by a cw laser (mixed argon and krypton). Holograms are recorded on single-layer panchromatic silver halide (Slavich PFG 03C) plates. Results show the optical setup can be adjusted to obtain a uniform background color. The interference fringe pattern visualized is large and colored and exhibits a single central white fringe, which makes the zero order of the interferogram easy to identify. An application in a subsonic wind tunnel is presented, in which the unsteady wake past a cylinder is recorded at high rate.     

In-line digital holographic interferometry

An optical system based on in-line digital holography for the evaluation of deformations is described. In-line holograms are recorded on a CCD chip. The problem of overlapping twin images typical for the in-line arrangement is solved by digital reconstruction and filtering of the unwanted wave fronts. Two separate interferograms of an object under test in its undeformed and deformed states are recorded each on a CCD chip. The phases of the two wave fronts are obtained from the complex amplitudes of the digital reconstructed wave fronts, and the deformation is calculated from the phase differences. Experimental results are presented.     

Simple multifrequency and phase-shifting fringe-projection system based on two-wavelength lateral shearing interferometry for three-dimensional profilometry

We propose a simple multifrequency spatial-carrier and phase-shifting fringe-projection system based on two-wavelength lateral shearing interferometry (LSI). In this system a wedge-shaped plate lateral shearing interferometer is used and, owing to the presence of tilt, a finite number of fringes parallel to the direction of the shear appears; hence a significant spatial-carrier frequency is generated at the focus position. We further enhance the spatial-carrier frequency either by changing the wavelength of the laser light or by slight defocusing. A synthetic interferogram with low spatial-carrier frequency is obtained by use of laser light of two wavelengths simultaneously in the lateral shear interferometer. We obtain the phase-shifted fringe patterns from the same setup by simply moving the wedge plate in an in-plane parallel direction, using a linear translator. The fringe projection system was tested for measurement of the three-dimensional shape of a discontinuous object. The present system has many advantages; e.g., it is a common-path interferometry and hence is insensitive to external vibrations, is compact in size, and is relatively inexpensive.     

High-speed digital holographic interferometry for vibration measurement

A system based on digital holographic interferometry for the measurement of vibrations is presented. A high-power continuous laser (10 W) and a high-speed CCD camera are used. Hundreds of holograms of an object that has been subjected to dynamic deformation are recorded. The acquisition speed and the time of exposure of the detector are determined by the vibration frequency. Two methods are presented for triggering the camera in order to acquire at a given phase of the vibration. The phase of the wavefront is calculated from the recorded holograms by use of a two-dimensional digital Fourier-transform method. The deformation of the object is obtained from the phase. By combination of the deformations recorded at different times it is possible to reconstruct the vibration of the object.     

Phase-shifting holographic interferometry for breast cancer detection

Using a mild pressure stressing device and a pulsed ruby-laser system, we apply phase-shifted holographic interferometry to the detection of breast cancer. We compare a four-step algorithm and a Carré algorithm for their ability to evaluate the interferograms. The results show the feasibility of holographic interferometry in the detection of anomalies in the human female breast.     

Modulation-enhanced sensitivity of holographic interferometry

A modulation-demodulation scheme substantially enhances diffusion-dominated-adaptive-interferometric sensitivity. The path length sensitivity is improved by converting a quadratic small-signal response, easily drowned in system noise, to a linear response by mixing with a strong phase modulation. This conversion also shifts low-frequency signals away from 1/f noise. Experimental results show 180 fm/ [square root]Hz displacement sensitivity for a 5 Hz signal with a few milliwatts of optical power, an improvement of 3 orders of magnitude over the unenhanced system.     

Orthographic double-beam holographic interferometry for limited-view optical tomography

A simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) that was first applied to limited-view optical tomography reconstruction of a three-dimensional asymmetric refractive-index field or a temperature distribution is presented and numerically simulated. Within two orthographic-view directions and limited view ranges, the reconstruction speed and accuracy of the SART are adequate. A new orthographic double-beam holographic-interferometric system from which multidirectional interferometric data can be obtained is first built. An asymmetric heat air-flow field is experimentally investigated by the use of orthographic double-beam holographic interferometry with double exposures. The temperatures reconstructed with the SART are consistent with those measured with a thermocouple.     

Eight-frame holographic interferometry system for transient plasma diagnostics

A multiframe technique that uses Fresnel holography is described. Splitting of the initial pulse by means of 50/50 beam splitters provides two sets of eight consecutive pulses with approximately the same energy but with different angles. Each interferogram is recorded separately. The technique has been used to obtain time-resolved Fresnel holographic interferograms of transient electrical discharges, such as Z pinch. A frequency-doubled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (6-ns FWHM) is used. A delay between consecutive pulses of 10 ns is achieved, and it is mainly limited by the physical size of the laboratory. Interferograms obtained on a gas-embedded Z pinch are shown.     

Time-averaged in-line digital holographic interferometry for vibration analysis

Time-averaged in-line digital holography is applied for vibration analysis. In particular, by use of a double-exposure approach, simultaneous determination of vibration mode shape and mean static state deformation during a vibration cycle are obtained. The subtraction of two numerically reconstructed digital holograms recorded at the same resonant frequency but with a small difference in amplitude shows the mixing of Bessel-type time-averaged fringes owing to vibration and of the double-exposure fringes owing to differences in the mean deformation of the object. It is shown that separation of these fringe patterns can be readily accomplished numerically. An experimental demonstration of this effect by use of in-line digital holography for relatively small membranes is demonstrated.     

Large deformation measurement by holographic interferometry

Summary The use of holographic interferometry for the measurement of large deformations is described. From the nature of holographic interferometry it is evident that large deformations exceed the wave length of the light source used by at least ten times of this size. To obtain holographically identifiable values of large deformations, a method of successive partial lighting is used. It shows how it is possible to keep all the advantages of the holographic method and use it even under conditions which apparently exceed its possibilities of application.     

Enhanced flow visualization with near-resonant holographic interferometry

Holographic interferometry measurements have been performed on high-speed, high-temperature gas flows with a laser output tuned near a resonant sodium transition. The technique allows the detection and quantification of the sodium concentration in the flow. By controlling the laser detuning and seeded sodium concentration, we performed flow visualization in low-density flows that are not normally detectable with standard interferometry. The technique was also successfully used to estimate the temperature in the boundary layer of the flow over a flat plate.