The role of an acousto-optic grating in determining the refractive index of a lens

Abstract

A technique for measuring the refractive index of a lens is described in this paper. In the present paper, an innovative technique has been proposed in which acousto-optics is involved. A new formula for evaluating the refractive index of a lens glass material is reported which is independent of lens parameters. A rectangular glass cell filled with liquid has been used as a photo-sonar device, which also has a piezoelectric crystal for generating ultrasonic waves. The test lens is immersed inside the ultrasonic cell. The focal length of the test lens has been varied by immersing it inside the ultrasonic cell filled with known liquid. The laser light travelling through the lens inside the glass cell gets diffracted when the ultrasonic waves are generated. Thus an interaction between sound and light wave occurs, resulting in a grating-like action, and the diffraction dots are displayed on a screen. A relation between the refractive index of liquids and the velocity of ultrasonic waves has been derived which also involves the separation of diffraction dots.