Optical table

An optical table or optics bench is a piece of equipment used for optics experiments and technologies.

Related Topics:
Optics - Experiment - Technologies

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In optical setups, especially those involving involve interferometry, the alignment of each component must be extremely accurate -- precise up to a fraction of a wavelength (ususally a few hundred nanometers). The smallest vibrations or tensions in the table on which the elements are set up might lead to complete failure. Hence, one requires an extremely sturdy table which neither vibrates nor flexes, even under heavy loads.

Related Topics:
Interferometry - Alignment - Wavelength - Nanometer

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Such an optical table is made of steel with a thick honeycomb lattice structure. Its surface usually has a grid of threaded holes while allow the components to be bolted down so they cannot move even a few nanometers. Often, its legs are pneumatic vibration dampers. For even more accurate setups, one also prevents air movements and temperature gradients by enclosing the surface in a plexiglass box and placing a "flowbox" above it, a device which produces a laminar stream of air flowing downwards and kept at a fixed temperature by special air conditioning.

Related Topics:
Steel - Honeycomb - Pneumatic - Vibration - Damper - Laminar - Air conditioning

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