Optical metrology at the Optical Sciences Center: an historical review

Katherine Creath; Robert E. Parks

doi:10.1117/12.2064376

20 October 2014 Optical metrology at the Optical Sciences Center: an historical review

Katherine Creath, Robert E. Parks

Proceedings Volume 9186, Fifty Years of Optical Sciences at The University of Arizona; 91860T (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2064376
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Optical Sciences Center (OSC) begun as a graduate-level applied optics teaching institution to support the US space effort. The making of optics representative of those used in other space programs was deemed essential. This led to the need for optical metrology: at first Hartmann tests, but almost immediately to interferometric tests using the newly invented HeNe laser. Not only were new types of interferometers needed, but the whole infrastructure that went with testing, fringe location methods, aberration removal software and contour map generation to aid the opticians during polishing needed to be developed. Over the last half century more rapid and precise methods of interferogram data reduction, surface roughness measurement, and methods of instrument calibration to separate errors from those in the optic have been pioneered at OSC. Other areas of research included null lens design and the writing of lens design software that led into the design of computer generated holograms for asphere testing. More recently work has been done on the reduction of speckle noise in interferograms, methods to test large convex aspheres, and a return to slope measuring tests to increase the dynamic range of the types of aspheric surfaces amenable to optical testing including free-form surfaces. This paper documents the history of the development of optical testing projects at OSC and highlights the contributions some of the individuals associated with new methods of testing and the infrastructure needed to support the testing. We conclude with comments about the future trends optical metrology.

Citation Download Citation

Katherine Creath and Robert E. Parks "Optical metrology at the Optical Sciences Center: an historical review", Proc. SPIE 9186, Fifty Years of Optical Sciences at The University of Arizona, 91860T (20 October 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2064376

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
14 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Mirrors

Interferometers

Holograms

Interferometry

Optical testing

Aspheric lenses

Beam splitters

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years