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Laser wavelength measurements
Author(s) -
Rowley W. R. C.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs014i004p00585
Subject(s) - optics , wavelength , laser , astronomical interferometer , detector , materials science , diffraction , optoelectronics , interferometry , physics
A review is made of developments in wavelength measurement practice over the last 5 years. The rapid development of single‐frequency tunable dye lasers has led to a requirement for quick and easy wavelength measurement at accuracies of 1 part in 10 6 or better. This has stimulated the development of moving‐carriage interferometers and of methods of image sensing with detector arrays or vidicon tubes. There has also been progress in the attainment of very high accuracy in wavelength comparisons of stabilized lasers, now nearly matching the laser reproducibilities of a few parts in 10 11 . The limitations to accuracy seem to be predominantly the defects of optical surfaces and uncertainties arising from diffraction effects.