Check how Ieedback loop works with cuvet introduced in the interIerometer

Use lockin ampliIier to ampliIy the signal we are attempting to detect

Use noise damping material to minimize ambient noise, and vibrations Irom the
optical breadboard
Application of LabView to Control the Feedback
Loop in a Photothermal Interferometer
1.C.Alvarado / C.C. Davis, 1. Gillespie, P. Pellegrino, N. Fell
Figure 1. Jamin Plate InterIerometer schematic
A HeNe Laser used in conjunction with an IR Beam to analyze a
gaseous sample oI a chemical at some minute concentration.
Using a Jamin plate interIerometer conIiguration, the laser beam
is split in halI through a beam splitter, producing two beams oI
equal intensity and Irequency. II the beams are not balanced
prior to the introduction oI IR beams, results could be skewed
due to thermal driIt. The reason there is such a high concern
about 'balancing the beams is that at this critical point the
interIerometer is at its most sensitive position.
Etalon #2
Detector #2
I
R

L
a
s
e
r

#
2
He-Ne laser
Etalon #1
Detector #1
IR Laser #1
Mixing
Crystal
Gas Cell
PZT Driver
Beam
Splitter
Background
Introduction
The photothermal interIerometer is being investigated Ior
possible use as a chemical detection sensor in chemical warIare.
The purpose oI this project was to develop a Ieedback loop which
controls a piezoelectric transducer. This soItware interIace was
developed to both control the piezoelectric transducer and to
reduce mechanical interaction with the interIerometer. The
interIace also automates the Ieedback process to reach quadrature
in a more systematic Iashion and reduces downtime.
BIock Diagram of Interferometer Feedback Loop
1st & 2nd Derivatives
taken to determine
slope & direction
oI PZT
Initialize stepper motor
Is Ieedback loop activated?
Take the averaged diIIerence oI
the values oI the beam intensities
Are beam values within tolerance
Out oI tolerance Within oI tolerance
Gather data
New Position within
Physical constraints?
Labview interIaces with hardware
to give PZT position
Position is adjusted
Figure 2.
LabView
Iront panel
Use LabView (Fig 2.) to control position oI piezoelectric
drive Ior balancing interIerometer
Determine direction & size oI steps via examination oI 1
st
and 2
nd
derivatives oI position vs. signal diIIerence curve
Only activate Ieedback loop when IR beam excitation is
oII
MethodoIogy
ResuIts
Beam is Iired Irom the HeNe laser
Beam is split by etalon plate
IR laser is turned on and chopped at duty cycle
Beams are recombined, with the phase change, in etalon #2
Beams are then reIlected to photodetectors, and processed by
LabView
ExperimentaI Setup
These are the results, showing the
sensitivity oI the interIerometer.
These are readings taken by
LabView, oI the signal picked up
by the interIerometer, oI a 5/16
washer, dropped 4 It. away Irom
the interIerometer.
Future Directions