Combining Harmonic Laser Beams by Fiber Components for Refractivity-Compensating Two-Color Interferometry

A perfect spatial overlap with multiple beams of different wavelengths is a prerequisite for multi–wavelength interferometry. Beam combination with the help of fibers seems to be an interesting method for this. We investigated three different types of fiber components, multi–mode wavelength division multiplexers (MM–WDMs), single–mode wavelength division multiplexers (SM–WDMs), and endlessly single–mode polarization maintaining photonic crystal fibers (PM–PCFs). All three seem potential candidates for a perfect spatial overlap of laser beams separated by an octave, i.e. fundamental and harmonic beams. We performed an experimental study on the impact of these components on polarization, wavefront, and coherence. These properties are essential for high–accuracy interferometry. As a test system, we used the fundamental and second harmonic beam of a Nd:YAG laser system at 1064 and 532 nm as a popular system in two–color interferometry for intrinsic refractive index compensation. The experimental results show the potential of PM–PCFs for this challenging application.