Overview of the measuring systems where a continuously altered light source plays a key role

OVERVIEW OF THE MEASURING SYSTEMS WHERE A CONTINUOUSLY ALTERED LIGHT SOURCE PLAYS A KEY ROLE.

The paper focuses on two families of instruments that have been developed over several years in the Institute of applied Optics using microinterferometric and confocal approach. The continuously variable light source constitutes the binding element of these two classes of measuring devices. The light source has to emit constant spectrum. During measurements the selected wavelength must be determined with significant accuracy, which constitutes the key and critical factor of the measurement process as a whole. The described systems are only a small part of what photonics offers but are very useful in characterizing many objects and materials in research and industrial environment.