Name: Etalon Characterization
Uploaded: 2023-06-02T12:00:00
Duration: 2 min 5 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Etalon Characterization at JoVE.com

The video discusses evaluating Fabry-Perot etalons using a fiber optic setup, temperature tuning, and data processing. It outlines procedures for measuring the free spectral range (FSR) and full width at half maximum (FWHM), demonstrating comparable results between measured and calculated values. Photothermal interferometry measurements are also presented.

etalon characterization

Fabrication of a Fabry-P&amp;#233;rot Etalon for Application in Trace-Gas Spectroscopy

In its most basic form, an FPE consists of two plane-parallel partially reflecting mirror surfaces1. In the following explanations, when referring to mirrors, the optical substrate and the reflective coating are addressed as one. In most applications, the mirrors used feature one wedged surface2 to prevent unwanted etalon effects. Figure 1 illustrates the formation of the interference pattern of an air-spaced etalon (Figure 1A), as well as the reflectance function for different mirror reflectivities (Figure 1B).
The light enters the cavity through one mirror, undergoes multiple reflections, and leaves the cavity by reflection as well as transmission. As this article focuses on the fabrication of an FPE operated in reflectance, the further explanations refer to reflection specifically. The waves leaving the cavity interfere, depending on the phase difference, q = 4&#960;nd/&#955;. Here, n is the refractive index inside the cavity, d is the mirror spacing, and &#955; is the wavelength of the interferometer&#39;s light source, here called the probe laser. A minimum reflectance occurs when the optical path difference matches the integer multiple of the wavelength, <img alt="Equation 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/65174/65174eq02.jpg" style="margin: auto;" />. The finesse of an ideal plane-parallel etalon is determined by the mirror reflectivities R1 and R2 only3:
<img alt="Equation 3" src="/files/ftp_upload/65174/65174eq03.jpg" style="margin: auto;" />
However, a real etalon is subject to many losses, which degrade the theoretically achievable finesse4,5,6. Deviation of the mirror parallelism7, non-normal incidence of the laser beam, beam shape8, mirror surface impurities, and scattering, among others, lead to a reduction in the finesse. The characteristic interference pattern can be described by the Airy function1:
<img alt="Equation 4" src="/files/ftp_upload/65174/65174eq04.jpg" style="margin: auto;" />
The full width at half maximum (FWHM), as well as the free spectral range (FSR) of the reflectance function, can be calculated as follows:
<img alt="Equation 5" src="/files/ftp_upload/65174/65174eq05.jpg" style="margin: auto;" />
<img alt="Equation 6" src="/files/ftp_upload/65174/65174eq06.jpg" style="margin: auto;" />
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/65174/65174fig01.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Fabry-P&#233;rot interferometer theory. (A) A schematic depiction of the multi-beam interference for an air-spaced etalon with wedged windows. A plane wave, E0, enters the cavity under a certain angle, &#966;, through an anti-reflection (AR)-coated surface and subsequently undergoes multiple reflections between the highly reflecting (high R) surfaces spaced at a distance, d. With each reflection, part of the light is out-coupled of the etalon either in transmission or reflection, where it interferes with the other waves. (B) The reflectance function of an ideal Fabry-P&#233;rot etalon for different mirror reflectivities (y-axis). <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/65174/65174fig01large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
FPEs can be found in a wide range of applications9,10,11. In the case presented here, the FPE is used in a photothermal interferometry (PTI) setup. In PTI, small density and, hence, refractive index changes, induced by the periodic excitation followed by the fast thermalization of a target gas via a second laser, are measured interferometrically12. The amount of heat and, thus, the magnitude of the refractive index change are proportional to the gas concentration. When measuring the intensity of the reflectance function of the FPE at its steepest point (operation point), these refractive index changes shift the reflectance function, thereby altering the measured intensity. As the reflectance function can be assumed to be linear in the region around the operation point, the measured signal is then proportional to the gas concentration. The sensor&#39;s sensitivity is determined by the slope of the reflectance function and is, therefore, proportional to the finesse. PTI, in combination with FPEs, has proven to be a sensitive and selective method to detect trace amounts of gases and aerosols13,14,15,16,17,18. In the past, many sensors for pressure and acoustic measurements relied on the use of moveable parts, like membranes, substituting the second mirror of the FPE19. Deflections of the membrane lead to a change in the mirror distance and, thus, the optical path length. These instruments have the disadvantage of being prone to mechanical vibrations. In recent years, the development of optical microphones using solid FPEs has reached a commercial level20. By abstaining from the use of moveable parts, the measurand changed from distance to the refractive index inside the Fabry-P&#233;rot cavity, thus increasing the ruggedness of the sensors significantly.
Commercially available air-spaced FPEs cost beyond what is acceptable for prototyping and testing, as well as high-volume production instrument integration. Most scientific publications constructing and using such FPEs discuss the topic of fabrication only minimally21,22. In most cases, specific equipment and machines (e.g., clean rooms, coating facilities, etc.) are necessary; for example, for fully-fiber-integrated FPEs, special micromachining equipment is necessary. To reduce the manufacturing costs and enable the testing of multiple different FPE configurations to enhance their suitability for PTI setups, a new fabrication method was developed, which is described in detail in the following protocol. By using only commercially available, standard bulk-optic and telecom fiber-optic components, the manufacturing costs could be reduced to less than &#8364;400 euros. Every facility working with standard photonic equipment should be able to reproduce our fabrication scheme and adapt it to their applications.

Author Spotlight: Fabrication of a Low-Cost, Fiber-Coupled, and Air-Spaced Fabry-P&amp;#233;rot Etalon  

Fabrication of a Low-Cost, Fiber-Coupled, and Air-Spaced Fabry-P&#233;rot Etalon

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Etalon Characterization at JoVE.com

Etalon Characterization  

To evaluate the produced etalon, use the fiber optic setup and a measurement system capable of temperature-tuning the laser step-wise with a sufficient data-logging rate. To obtain measurements for calculating the theoretical free spectral range or FSR, perform a temperature sweep corresponding to at least two FSRs by increasing the temperature step-wise and letting the thermoelectric cooler settle for two to three seconds before measuring for another two to three seconds each time. After performing a temperature sweep corresponding to a wavelength sweep of the laser, process the measurement data with any numerical calculation program.Use any signal processing library with an integrated peak finder. The distance between two subsequent peaks represents FSR. Evaluate the width of the peak at its half height to calculate the full width at half maximum.Convert the temperature into wavelength by using the temperature-tuning coefficient of the laser. Calculate the full width at half maximum and FSR from the measurements. Finally, calculate the finesse of the fabricated Fabry-Perot etalons.This study resulted in the fabrication of Fabry-Perot etalons with a well-defined reflectance function. A comparison of the measured and calculated metrics of the fabricated Fabry-Perot etalons, etalon demonstrated that the measured finesse and full width at half maximum were comparable to the calculated values of ideal Fabry-Perot etalons. Photothermal interferometry measurements of water vapor and ambient air are shown here.The signal was extracted by means of a fast Fourier transform and compared to the background signal with the excitation laser turned off.

Research

JoVE Journal

Engineering

Fabry-P&#233;rot etalons (FPE) have found their way into many applications. In fields such as spectroscopy, telecommunications, and astronomy, FPEs are used for their high sensitivity as well as their exceptional filtering capability. However, air-spaced etalons with high finesse are usually built by specialized facilities. Their production requires a clean room, special glass handling, and coating machinery, meaning commercially available FPEs are sold for a high price. In this article, a new and cost-effective method to fabricate fiber-coupled FPEs with standard photonic laboratory equipment is presented. The protocol should serve as a step-by-step guide for the construction and characterization of these FPEs. We hope this&#160;will enable researchers to conduct fast and cost-effective prototyping of FPEs for various fields of application. The FPE, as presented here, is used for spectroscopic applications. As shown in the representative results section via proof of principle measurements of water vapor in ambient air, this FPE has a finesse of 15, which is sufficient for the photothermal detection of trace concentrations of gases.

This protocol describes the construction of a low-cost, discrete, fiber-coupled, and air-spaced Fabry-Perot etalon with various applications, such as in trace-gas spectroscopy. The fabrication is possible in any facility with standard optical laboratory equipment available.

Fabry-P&#233;rot etalons (FPE) have found their way into many applications. In fields such as spectroscopy, telecommunications, and astronomy, FPEs are ...

Etalon Assembly and Fiber-Etalon Alignment

To begin, place the 3D-printed cell on the table with the etalon pit facing upward. Insert an O-ring into the etalon pit and press it slightly into the designated groove. Place the beam splitter with the reflective surface facing upward onto the O-ring in the etalon pit.Using a tweezer, carefully place the two spacers onto the beam splitter to generate a clear aperture for the gas and excitation laser, which enters the air cavity via the through-hole running from one side of the cell to the other. Align the mirror on top of the spacers with the reflective side facing down so that the beam splitter, spacers, and mirror are aligned concentrically. Take the 3D-printed etalon cap and put the O-rings into the designated grooves.Align the cap to the rectangular groove of the cell, lift the cell, and apply pressure on the cap to fix the spacers in place while simultaneously inserting four M4 screws through the designated holes from the back side. Mount the screws with four M4 nuts on the front side and tighten them until the pressure from the cap is enough to hold the spacers in place and the O-rings are sufficiently compressed. For fiber-etalon alignment, mount the pigtailed ferrule and the GRIN lens system with the ferrule clamp and ensure that the translation stage in the Z direction is moved to its maximum height.Align the 3D-printed cell underneath this system, fixing its position at a height slightly below the GRIN lens, pointing directly to the center of the opening. Apply one or two drops of adhesive on the front end of the GRIN lens with a pipette. Lower down the translation stage in the Z direction until contact with the anti-reflection coated surface of the beam splitter is insured.Continue to lower the GRIN lens until sufficient pressure is applied and the springs are under enough tension. Turn on the modulated laser and the oscilloscope. Ensure the oscilloscope has the highest possible resolution when starting the alignment process.Then, set the time resolution so that the two to three periods of the modulation are visible. To start the alignment process, ensure that the GRIN lens points normally on the beam splitter surface. Step by step, deflect the first goniometric stage slightly and then move the other goniometric stage around the zero position.If no change is observed on the oscilloscope, deflect the first goniometric stage slightly more and repeat this iterative process until the triangular modulation becomes visible on the oscilloscope. Once a strong back-reflection is observed, adjust the oscilloscope's resolution and ensure the peak of the etalon's reflectance function sits centrally on the triangular modulation slopes. Tune the etalon's peak by changing the temperature of the laser until the peak is centered on the slope.With slight movements of the goniometric stages, try to maximize the peak strength while simultaneously maximizing the peak-to-peak ratio of the triangular modulation. When the alignment is finished, mount the UV lamp close to the GRIN lens mounted at a 45-degree angle. Next, cure the adhesive applied on the front end of the GRIN lens.After 5 to 10 minutes, turn off the UV lamp and apply more adhesive around the GRIN lens without touching it. Expose the adhesive to UV light for another five to 10 minutes. Repeat this step until the opening of the cell is completely filled with a homogenous layer of adhesive and perform the final cure for at least one hour.The representative image shows a good and worse alignment. The better the alignment, the higher the peak-to-peak ratio of the triangular modulation and the more the reflectance peak approaches zero.