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corner. Displacement is measured between the interferometer and the cube corner. Either one
or both could move.
(a) Single beam Interferometer [Refer Fig. 6.37 (fc)]. It has the outgoing and returning
beam superimposed on each other, giving the appearance of only one beam travelling
between
the interferometer and the retroreflector.
This interferometer operates functionally the same way as the standard interferometer,
but it is advantageous when space for optics and beam paths is limited. The interferometer
and retro-reflector for this system are considerably smaller than the standard system.
6.8.4.
Sources of Errors.
The various sources of errors in the use of ACLIs are :
(i) uncertainty in the refractive index of air (velocity of light).
(ii) alignment (cosine error).
Avoiding Sources of Errors
(i) Velocity of light (VOL) compensation. It has been found that wavelength of laser
changes by about one part per million for every :
(a) atmospheric pressure change of 2.5 mm of Hg; i.e. if pressure varies by ± 20 mm of
Hg, wavelength varies by about ± 7.5 ppm ; in other words, if axis of travel is 2 metres, this
pressure change could cause an error of ± 15 microns.
(b) air temperature change of 1°C.
(c) relative-humidity change of 100%.
The best method to compensate for VOL changes is to take barometer, thermometer and
hygro meter readings and apply correction by referring to compensation tables.
(ii) Cosine error. As the ACLI measures component travel in the direction of laser
beam, and if two are not coincident, then error called cosine error will be introduced. To
avoid
it, the axis of measuring device should be aligned with the axis of travel or object.
(iii) Beam Protection. Though the ACLI is quite tolerant of the beam disturbance ;
however the following types of disturbances should be avoided ;
(a) Beam must never be completely blocked by a solid object.
(b) Index of refraction of air path followed by a beam should be as uniform as possible
over the entire optical path, i.e. no temperature or pressure gradient in air path.