Optimising backscatter from multiple beam interference

O'Donnell, Laura and Padgett, Miles J. and Johnson, Steven D. (2021) Optimising backscatter from multiple beam interference. Optics Express, 29 (6). pp. 8770-8776. ISSN 1094-4087 (https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.420384)

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Abstract

Optical sensing applications are usually reliant on the intensity of the measured signal. For remote sensing applications where a target is probed with a laser beam, the sensitivity will be limited by the amount of backscattered light returned from the target to the detector. We demonstrate a method of increasing the signal returned to the detector by illuminating the target with a number of independently controlled beams, where both the position and phase are optimised. We show an improvement in the backscattered signal that is proportional to the number of beams used. The method is demonstrated within a laser microphone, measuring audio signal due to vibrations in surfaces, showing a significant improvement in the signal-to-noise of the measurement.

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