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Improving a high-resolution fiber-optic interferometer through deposition of a TiO2 reflective coating by simple dip-coating

Improving a high-resolution fiber-optic interferometer through deposition of a TiO2 reflective coating by simple dip-coating

Authors :
Venkatesh Subba-Rao
Peter M. Hoffmann
Ratna Naik
Mircea Pantea
Jason Esmacher
Chandran Sudakar
Source :
The Review of scientific instruments. 80(11)
Publication Year :
2009

Abstract

Fiber-optic based interferometers are used to detect small displacements, down to the subnanometer range. Coating the end of the optical fiber with a partially reflecting thin film greatly improves the resolution of interferometers by increasing the multiple reflections between the fiber end and the measured object. In this work, we present a quick and easy thin film deposition technique to coat the end of a single optical fiber by dip-coating a metal-organic precursor, which is then decomposed in a propane flame. The coated fiber was tested for morphology and usefulness for interferometric application. We found that this coating technique is much faster and easier than conventional thin coating techniques, and yields results that are comparable or better than can be achieved with sputtering or thermal evaporation.

Details

ISSN :
10897623
Volume :
80
Issue :
11
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The Review of scientific instruments
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....ebbaa97fab52a47691dec33ac3b175f4