Advances in Optics

Tania Pereira ¹, Mariana Sequeira ¹, Pedro Vaz ¹, Ana Tome ¹, Helena C. Pereira ¹, Carlos Correia ¹, Joao Cardoso ¹

Affiliations
1 Instrumentation Centre, Physics Department, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-516 Coimbra, PT

Abstract

Doppler self-mixing laser probing techniques are often used for vibration measurement with very high accuracy. A novel optoelectronic probe solution is proposed, based on off-the-shelf components, with a direct reflection optical scheme for contactless characterization of the target's movement. This probe was tested with two test bench apparatus that enhance its precision performance, with a linear actuator at low frequency (35 μm, 5-60Hz), and its dynamics, with disc shaped transducers for small amplitude and high frequency (0.6 μm, 100-2500 Hz). The results, obtained from well-established signal processing methods for self-mixing Doppler signals, allowed the evaluation of vibration velocity and amplitudes with an average error of less than 10%. The impedance spectrum of piezoelectric (PZ) disc target revealed a maximum of impedance (around 1 kHz) for minimal Doppler shift. A bidimensional scan over the PZ disc surface allowed the categorization of the vibration mode (0, 1) and explained its deflection directions. The feasibility of a laser vibrometer based on self-mixing principles and supported by tailored electronics able to accurately measure submicron displacements was, thus, successfully demonstrated.

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