Rough surfaces profile studies using acousto-optic tunable filter

The experimental studies of the rough surface profile are described. These studies have been performed using acoustooptic tunable filters and optical components with strong chromatic aberration. The basic characteristic of the surface profilometer mock-up is longitudinal resolving power (by z-distance) which has to be defined according to the certain criterion. The proposed criterion is connected with the probability of missing of information unit which relates to the z-distance characterization of the device. The experimental circuit providing the surface profile measurements is described, and the experimental results are listed and discussed. The most interesting result is that defocusing is distinguished with 90% probability at electric frequency deviation of 200 kHz. The perspectives of the further improvement of information transmission by this device are discussed. It has been found that this improvement can be attained by means of the noise level decreasing to the level taking place for electric frequency of 94 MHz.© (2008) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.