Product category:
Linear Position Sensors
News Release from: Arden Photonics | Subject: AWS-50 wavefront sensor
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 10 October 2003
Wavefront sensor provides real-time
measurement
Arden Photonics has unveiled a new metrology technology developed by leading European research and development organisation QinetiQ.
Arden Photonics has unveiled a new metrology technology developed by leading European research and development organisation QinetiQ A new range of instruments is being made available to researchers and manufacturers of optical components and assemblies, hard discs, contact lenses and precision mechanical components
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 11 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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The move sees Arden Photonics expanding into the optical metrology market with the AWS-50 range of wavefront sensors for measuring the form of lenses, flatness of mirrors and other optical components, as well as surface shape of silicon substrates and optics.
At the heart of the AWS-50 wavefront sensor is an IMP (image multiplexing) diffraction grating designed by QinetiQ, which is based at Malvern in Worcestershire.
The two companies reached an agreement allowing Arden Photonics to exploit their novel technology, which was developed for use in atmospheric adaptive optics, in other target markets.
The IMP diffraction grating works by imaging two separate planes of the wavefront onto a CCD array.
From this information, Zernike polynomials can be calculated or the entire wavefront reconstructed.
The measurement of the wavefront is therefore performed in real time, does not require a coherent light source and is not sensitive to vibration - a drawback of traditional interferometric systems.
David Robinson of Arden Photonics says: "This technology offers a robust, real-time wavefront measurement method which we expect to bring valuable benefits to the industry.
It will enable manufacturers of a wide range of precision optical and mechanical products to improve quality by taking high accuracy measurements wherever they are needed".
"It marks another step forward for Arden and its growing reputation in the photonics industry and we are looking forward to taking the AWS-50 to the market place - starting tomorrow".
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