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5. Calibrating a laser interferometer
5.1 Wavelength calibration in vacuum
The frequency (or wavelength in vacuum) of a laser is measured by comparing it with that of a reference laser, using the beat or heterodyning method.
The reference laser is a helium-neon laser slaved to an iodine peak. Its short-term stability is 10
–12
. Its reproducibility is of the order of 10
–10
. A highly complex measurement chain at the Laboratoire Primaire des Temps et Fréquences links it to the atomic clock (stability 10
–13
)
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Calibrating a laser interferometer
Bibliography
References
Standardization
French standards. Association française de normalisation (AFNOR) http://www.boutique.afnor.fr
- Sécurité des appareils à laser - Partie 1 : classification des matériels, prescriptions et guide de l'utilisateur (Indice de classement C 43-805) - NF EN 60825-1 - 6.00
- Instruments de mesurage de longueur. Interféromètres à comptage de franges et à source laser - E 11-016 - 4.87
- Spécification géométrique...
Manufacturers (non-exhaustive list)
Agilent Technologies (distributed by Contrôle Laser Mesure)
Renishaw http://www.renishaw.com
Micro Module http://www.micromodule.fr
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The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference