Close

Interferometer working

A project log for EMDrive/satellite

Developing a small fuelless microwave thruster

paul-kocylaPaul Kocyla 09/05/2015 at 17:009 Comments

The interferometer setup to measure the forces of our Baby EMdrive is working.
Now I will write some image processing code to get the displacement data into the PC.

Update: Software is finished. In the evening, the interferometer shows a very stable and calm behaviour (I assume because there is no traffic outside). The accuracy seems to be in the order of a few nanometers. I use image processing of the interference pattern with openCV to increase the resolution which results in about 30x higher accuracy than just counting the maxima crossings.

Discussions

willemstaal wrote 09/09/2015 at 09:59 point

Paul, do you have a airco in your testplace? My experience is that a controlled temperature increases the quality of the test result. If its warmer, you get more unwanted fringes.. (fata morgana effects) 

  Are you sure? yes | no

Paul Kocyla wrote 09/09/2015 at 10:55 point

I don´t have one, but the temperatures are mild here at this time. I´ll cover the complete setup in a box to avoid larger airflows. However, the RF source is heating away over 1 Watt which might result in some disturbances.

  Are you sure? yes | no

willemstaal wrote 09/09/2015 at 11:01 point

attach a cooling ribbon onto it (from a microprocessor perhaps) You need to dissipate the heat. You could also place a metal panel between the experiment and the power source..

  Are you sure? yes | no

Paul Kocyla wrote 09/09/2015 at 14:50 point

The power source will be on the platform together with the EMdrive, so the displacement of the whole EMdrive setup will be measured. The RF housing will have a radiator so the heat can go upwards and hopefully will not make too much noise

  Are you sure? yes | no

willemstaal wrote 09/07/2015 at 14:03 point

How do you stabilise the interferometer? I used to make holograms and i know that any vibration on the ground will be visible on the endresult. This  system is no exeption! I used  soft rubber buffers and a stone slab for weight to reduce any vibration from the device AND the enviroment.  even breathing and heat diffrences can falsify the results.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Paul Kocyla wrote 09/07/2015 at 14:57 point

When I do nothing, the pattern stays stable. But I fixed the second mirror - in the final setup the mirror will be on the EMdrive which will be beared elastically, so I expect vibrations too.
When I knock with my finger on the chair standing nearby the table, there is heavy movement detectable though.
I used a 12mm aluminium plate as base, maybe that helps to keep it stable. I live close to countryside and in the evening there is almost no traffic, I assume that´s also a reason why it stays stable.

Update: There are changes, but they are very slow, like 10 minutes for a half wavelength, sometimes shorter, sometimes longer.

  Are you sure? yes | no

willemstaal wrote 09/08/2015 at 07:47 point

try to put small disks of memory foam under the table legs.

  Are you sure? yes | no

Keegan Reilly wrote 09/06/2015 at 18:42 point

Wow, that looks awesome, and very professional!  Nice work, can't wait to see your code, and a video, that was fast! What kind of laser did you end up using?  And camera?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Paul Kocyla wrote 09/06/2015 at 19:43 point

I used a 10$ red laser module which showed very stable. But I broke it due to rotating it to get equal bright beams through the beam splitter cube. My friend Jack got me a replacement laser within half an hour (respect to that) so I could use the weekend to work on the software. I ordered two more, just in case. Good interference patterns occur with a laser  whose point is elongated. You can put a biconcave lens in the last path so the screen can be put close to the cube.

I use a playstation PSeye camera. The reason is that I used it in other projects before and therefore have the toolchain for it. I can scan 60 frames per second which should be enough for slowl displacements.
The current resolution I get is about 10nm - at night time where there´s no traffic. Else there is some noise. But it´s nice to see that electrical EMI is no issue at all :-D Thanx again for that hint.

  Are you sure? yes | no