SELF-MIXING LASER VIBROMETER WITH RESOLUTION IN THE MICRO AND NANO METERS SCALE

Abstract

We present the development of an interferometer capable of making contactless measurements of vibrations. The results show the we achieve micro- and/or nano-metric measurements without the stabilization of the laser. While there are multiple techniques to achieve this objective, in this case we use a method whose main virtue is the low component count and the self-alignment capacity. The method is based on the optical feedback effect in a laser diode which relies on the use of an internal reference for calibration.