Top Interferometers in 2024

Posted  by GoPhotonics

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An interferometer is a precision measurement device that works based on interference, a phenomenon where two or more waves superimpose to produce an interference pattern in which the initial light intensities are redistributed and the resultant wave has higher, equal, or lower amplitudes. They are used in various industrial and academic applications like sensing, distance measurement, tracking & navigation, spectral analysis, and for surface quality analysis of various components and systems like lasers, optics in CD & DVD drivers, machine parts, etc. In 2024, several products were launched that made a significant impact on the market. We have compiled a list of trending Interferometer products in 2024 on Gophotonics. We keep users up to date with new products, news, whitepapers, webinars, and events. 

Note: This list has been compiled based on user activity on Gophotonics. To ensure that we cover the whole range of Interferometers, we limited the number of products from each company. The listed products are shown in a random order.

1520 nm - 1570 nm, Delay Line Interferometer (DLI) for D(Q)PSK Demodulation Applications 

The MINT from KYLIA is a Delay Line Interferometer (DLI) that operates at a wavelength of 1520 nm - 1570 nm. It has ultra-fast (U) & low voltage (L) phase tuning options and a free spectral range (FSR) greater than 0.4 GHz. This DLI has a maximum FSR accuracy of 1 % (FSR > 2.5 GHz) & 5 % (FSR < 2.5 GHz). It has an insertion loss of up to 2 dB (FSR > 2.5 GHz) & 9 dB (FSR < 2.5 GHz) and insertion loss uniformity of 0.5 dB (FSR>2.5 GHz). This DLI has a polarization dependent loss below 0.3 dB and polarization dependant frequency shift of 2 % (FSR > 10GHz) & 4 % (FSR < 10GHz). It has a minimum extinction ratio of 18 dB (FSR>2.5 GHz) and polarization extinction ratio of 25. 

The MINT has a temperature dependant frequency shift of 10 - 50 % (FSR > 2.5 GHz) and tuning range of less than 1.5. It has a tuning voltage of 3 V - 90 V and tuning time constant of 0.02 ms - 1 s. This DLI has a polarization mode dispersion of 0.1 ps and chromatic dispersion of 1 ps/nm. It has an optical return loss above 35 dB and skew of 0.5 ps. This DLI uses a 0.1 inch PIN header phase tuning connector and consumes 0.001 W - 0.5 W of power. It supports SMF-28 and PANDA PM fiber pigtail with a length of 1 m. This DLI is available in a package that measures 44 mm x 26 mm x 9.5 mm (FSR >= 20GHz), 100 mm x 55 mm x 16 mm (FSR < 20GHz) (FSR > 2.5 GHz) and 130 mm x 65 mm x 19.5 mm (FSR<2.5 GHz). It is ideal for D(Q)PSK demodulation applications. Other products that users commonly search for include: WT-MINT, 3 to 12 ns, WT-MINT, 300ps, WT-MINT, 100ps, etc. Read More

632.8 nm He-Ne Laser Interferometer for Measurement of Optical Component Applications

The LMS200 from Pratt & Whitney Measurement Systems is a He-Ne Laser Interferometer that operates at a wavelength of 632.8 nm. It has a measurement range of up to 200 mm and direct reading range of 200 mm. This interferometer has an uncertainty of 0.05 + 0.5L/1000 µm and repeatability of 0.04 µm. It has a Tungsten Carbide Flatt (1/10 wave) measuring probe with a Ø 0.125" diamond tip. The probe is motorized & remote-controlled to improve system stability and eliminate operator influence. It can measure specimens of up to 279 mm x 203 mm in size and has a probe contact force of 14 grams. This interferometer has two-step calibration, an advanced time-saving feature that allows calibration using two lab-grade, traceable gage blocks and takes only 30 seconds from start to finish. 

The LMS200 can operate in direct reading or comparator modes and features programmable automatic cycling that supports a user-defined constant throughput rate. This interferometer stores the summation of all measurements on command and can display stats indicating the computed mean value & one standard deviation. It requires an AC supply voltage of 110/120 V - 220/240 V and consumes 1 A - 2 A of current. This interferometer is available in a package that measures 56 cm x 41 cm x 79 cm and is ideal for the measurement of balls/spheres, magnetic tape/disk substrates, optical components, poly films, gage blocks/slip gauges, coating thickness standards, plug & pin gauges, thread wires, film thickness, gauge block stacks, mesh thickness, textiles, and precision parts. Read More

White Light Interferometer for Industrial Distance Measurement Applications 

The IMS5400-DS from Micro-Epsilon is a White Light Interferometer that can measure a thickness of 0.01 mm - 1.3 mm. It has a resolution of less than 1 nm and continuously adjustable rate from 100 Hz to 6 kHz. This interferometer has a NIR-SLED light source with a wavelength of 840 nm and pilot laser of wavelength 635 nm. It has a linearity of up to ± 50 nm and measuring angle of ± 2°. This interferometer uses a class 1 (pilot) laser with a light spot diameter of 10 µm. 

The IMS5400-DS comes with IP65 (sensor) & IP40 (controller) protection and has an optional Ultra High Vacuum (UHV). This interferometer has a 16-bit D/A converter and can be controlled via Ethernet, EtherCAT, RS422, PROFINET, or EtherNet/IP interfaces. It requires a DC supply voltage of 24 V and consumes 10 W of power. This interferometer is available in an aluminum housing that measures Φ10 x 55 mm and is ideal for industrial distance measurement applications. Other products that users commonly search for include: IMS5400-TH70, IMS5600-DS, IMS5400-TH45, etc. Read More

158.25 nm Three-Axis Interferometer for Measurement Applications

The 10736A from Keysight Technologies is a Three Axis Interferometer that has a linear optical resolution of 158.25 nm. The system performs three concurrent measurements: one for linear distance and two for angular values (yaw, and either pitch or roll). These measurement pathways are inherently aligned to ensure exceptional system accuracy. This interferometer has a resolution of 5 nm (linear), 0.024 µrad (pitch), and 0.2 µrad (yaw). 

The 10736A has an output beam diameter of 3/6/9 mm and parallelism of up to 40 µrad (axes 1 & 2) & 50 µrad (axes 1 & 3). This interferometer has an angular range of ±1 mrad (pitch/roll & yaw for 6 mm beams) & ±1.5 mrad (yaw for 9 mm beams). It has an average thermal drift coefficient of 40 nm/°C (for axes 1 & 2) and 100 nm/°C (for axis 3). This interferometer is available in a compact module that measures 203.5 mm x 105 mm x 60 mm and is ideal for three-axis measurement applications. Other products that users commonly search for include:  E1715A, 10735A, 10721A, etc. Read More

1225 nm - 1375 nm, Mach-Zehnder Interferometer for OCT Applications

The OL-MZI-1300 from LD-PD Inc is a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer that operates at a wavelength of 1225 nm - 1375 nm. It has a free spectrum range of 103.3 GHZ and saturated optical power of 50 mW (at 1300 nm). This interferometer has a balance detector bandwidth of 200 MHz and an arm difference of 2 mm. It uses SMF-28 polarisation mode fiber and has an InGaAs/PIN detector that operates at a wavelength of 800 nm - 1700 nm. This interferometer requires a DC supply voltage of 5 V and consumes up to 0.5 A of current. It supports FC/APC & SMA connectors and is available in a compact module that measures 120 mm x 100 mm x 25 mm. This interferometer is ideal for optical coherence tomography (OCT) & other coherent field applications. Other products that users commonly search for include:  FP-WLFE-MIR, FP-WLFE-NIR, etc. Read More

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