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This section provides an overview for laser interferometers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 laser interferometer manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked laser interferometer companies as of December, 2024: 1.4D Technology Corp, 2.Ocean Insight, 3.Motion X Corporation.
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Categories Related to Laser Interferometers
A laser interferometer is a device that uses light interference to measure distances and shapes with extremely high accuracy.
The laser light output from the built-in light source of the device is divided into two parts by a special mirror, known as a beamsplitter. One beam is directed onto the surface of the sample, while the other beam is reflected by the beamsplitter.
At this stage, there is a difference in the optical path length between the two laser beams. When these beams overlap, the interference pattern changes according to the phase of the waves. This pattern, being sensitive to the optical path length, is also affected by the surface roughness of the sample.
Therefore, by analyzing the interference pattern, the shape of the sample's surface can be determined. Owing to its high measurement accuracy and non-contact nature, laser interferometers are used in various fields, including industry and scientific research.
Laser interferometers are used to analyze the surface topography of solid samples. They are employed in precision-required contexts, such as analyzing the surfaces of camera lenses and contact lenses, and measuring the topography of DVDs and glass.
These devices can measure various surface types, including flat, spherical, and hemispherical, making them versatile in many fields. However, they are less effective for measuring liquid samples or unpolished samples due to susceptibility to external vibrations, fluctuations in surface, and roughness.
The operation of a laser interferometer is based on the principle of light interference. In these devices, light from a single laser source is split into two optical paths: the "reference optical path" and the "measurement optical path."
When the split light recombines, light interference occurs. The detection of changes in brightness due to this interference allows for the measurement of minute variations in the length and shape of the optical path.
Specifically, the brightness alteration corresponds to the phase difference of the light waves. Perfect phase alignment (zero phase difference) results in maximum brightness, while a phase difference of half a wavelength (180 degrees) results in interference cancellation and minimal brightness.
Changes in the length of the measurement optical path create a phase difference with the reference path. Detecting this difference enables the accurate measurement of the shape and movement of the object being examined.
A laser interferometer analyzes a sample's surface by examining the interference pattern created by the overlapping of two divided light beams within the device. The phase difference between these waves, which occurs when peaks and valleys of the waves align or misalign, significantly influences the resultant wave's strength.
When the phase difference is an exact multiple of the light's wavelength, the overlapping waves amplify. Conversely, if the phase difference equals a multiple of half the light's wavelength, the waves cancel each other out.
Given that the wavelength of light in a laser interferometer is about 630 nanometers, changes in the optical path of just a few hundred nanometers can alter the interference pattern. This sensitivity allows for the detection of surface thickness variations smaller than one micrometer.
One of the key characteristics of a laser interferometer is its ability to measure surfaces non-destructively, as the sample is unlikely to be affected by the laser beam. However, these devices are sensitive to minor vibrations, necessitating the use of an anti-vibration table to shield them from vibrations and shocks.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Ocean Insight is the Applied Spectral Knowledge company, founded in 1989, is a manufacutring company using spectral technology, application expertise, and manufacturing scalability to help customers take on important challenges for a safer, cleaner, healthier future, headquartered in Florida, USA. The company consists of three industry brands: Ocean Optics, which pioneered miniature spectrometers and delivers spectral solutions to researchers, OEMs and industrial customers; Ocean Applied, which designs and builds industrial-grade photonics systems for material inspection, chemical identification and quality assurance; and International Light, which supplies lighting assemblies, light measurement solutions and calibration services.
4D Technology Corporation, established in 2002 and based in Tucson, Arizona, is a manufacturer and supplier of precision laser interferometers and surface roughness profilers. The company's product range includes laser interferometers and surface roughness profilers, such as the 4D InSpec Surface Gage, 4D InSpec XL Surface Gage, 4D Fizeau Interferometer, 4D Twyman-Green Interferometer, and 4D Surface & Wavefront Analysis Software. These products cater to diverse industries like optics, manufacturing, and precision machining. Besides, its comprehensive services encompass custom engineering, manufacturing, training, and support. Driven by creativity, 4D Technology's achievements include the R&D 100 Award.
Keysight Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1939 and headquartered in Santa Rosa, California. Keysight is a global developer and manufacturer of electronic design and test solutions to communications, networking, aerospace, defense, and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries. Keysight’s communications solutions group solutions include electronic design automation software; radio frequency and microwave test solutions, hardware and virtual network test platforms and software applications, as well as optical laser source solutions. Keysight’s electronic industrial solutions group offers various design tools and verification tools. Keysight offers product support, technical support, and training and consulting services. It sells its products through direct sales force, distributors, resellers, and manufacturer's representatives.
Lamtech Lasermesstechnik GmbH, founded in 1993 with headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, is a developer and manufacturer of optical measurement systems. The company specializes in the development of interferometers for the flatness measurement of technical surfaces. Its product portfolio includes interferometric measuring systems for non-contact flatness measurement of finish-machined (lapped and ground) as well as polished precision parts and software programs for the evaluation of fringe patterns by visual inspection instruments. The company's services include contract measuring and custom instrument production.
LT Ultra-Precision Technology GmbH, founded in 2002 and headquartered in Herdwangen-Schönach, Germany, is a manufacturer of optics, optical components, and complete machines. The company's product portfolio includes optical metallic laser optics, metal optics, and beam delivery components. It also offers a range of complex machining machinery, technology components, and interferometric metrology components. The company's services include training and further education, custom manufacturing of metal optics and tools, as well as machine design and engineering.
SIOS Meßtechnik GmbH, founded in 1991, is a measurement system manufacturer headquartered in Ilmenau, Germany. The company specializes in a range of measuring devices, including optical, tactile, and laser interferometric equipment, for ultra-precision measurement tasks. Its product lineup features laser vibrometers, stabilized helium-neon (HeNe) lasers, and machines for nanopositioning and nano-measuring. The company also offers gauging probes, air temperature sensors, and climate measurement stations. Supported by comprehensive metrology software, these devices are designed for precise angle, vibration, and force measurements among other capabilities. They are widely applied in calibration, mechanical engineering, and nanometrology, serving diverse industries and scientific disciplines.
Automated Precision Inc. (API), founded in 1987, is an American manufacturer based in Rockville, Maryland, providing laser-based dimensional metrology solutions. The company develops various products for industrial measurement and calibration. The company's measurement solutions include hemispherical scanners, laser trackers, and coordinate measurement machine (CMM) arms. Machine tool calibration and robotic calibration solutions, utilizing the RADIAN laser trackers, RoboCal software, and motorized active targets for small modular reactors (SMR), are also available. These products find applications across various industries, including automotive, energy, and transportation.
Chotest Technology Inc., founded in 2005, is a manufacturer of precision measuring instruments headquartered in Shenzhen, China. The company offers a range of high-precision measuring equipment, including White Light Interferometer SuperView W1, Laser Tracker GT series, universal length measuring machines, laser interferometer SJ6000, and profilometers SJ5700 series. Its products are manufactured in accordance with ISO9001 and 6S standards, ensuring quality products for its customers. The company's precision measuring equipment is used in various industries, including government metrology and quality inspection agencies, automotive, aerospace, and machinery. Its instruments are employed for accurate measurements in quality control and industrial applications.
Motion X Corporation was established in 2002 by a group of industry professionals with extensive applied experience in designing, manufacturing, and supporting turnkey motion control systems and subsystems. The company is headquartered in Goleta, California near the University of California, Santa Barbara. The company is a designer and manufacturer of motional control systems and provider of motion control services for customers worldwide, serving industries including semiconductor, data storage, aerospace, microscopy, and photonics. The company also performs contract manufacturing services, fulfilling outsourcing manufacturing requests.
Micro-Epsilon was originally founded in Osaka and Micro-Epsilon America was founded in 1998, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Micro-Epsilon develops, manufactures, and distributes sensors to aerospace, battery production, glass production, wind power, precision optics, medical technology, transportation, semiconductor, and other industries. Micro-Epsilon’s sensor product categories include inductive, capacitive, laser, confocal, laser distance, magneto-inductive, draw-wire, rotation speed, color, paint thickness measurement, and fiber optic sensors in addition to interferometers and other sensor equipment.
SmarAct GmbH., established in 2020 and headquartered in Cambridge, UK, is a distinguished manufacturer and supplier of energy-efficient electric actuators. The company's product range includes a diverse array of electric actuators, encompassing servo, stepper, linear, rotary, and pneumatic variants. These offerings find applications across industries like industrial automation, medical devices, semiconductor manufacturing, and renewable energy. Their services envelop custom engineering and manufacturing, alongside comprehensive training and support. Driven by creativity, SmartAct is deeply devoted to ongoing research and development, ensuring a constant stream of technological enhancements.
Renishaw plc., established in 1973 and based in Wotton-under-Edge, United Kingdom, is a manufacturer of analytical instruments, medical devices, and manufacturing technologies. Some of the products it stocks include additive manufacturing systems, open optical encoders, and neurological products, and it operates in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, with 67 locations in 36 countries. Throughout its history, the company has spent 13% to 18% of its annual sales in R&D and engineering. In 1981, it set up its first international manufacturing facility in Ireland, and in 1984, it was listed in the London Stock Exchange unlisted securities market.
Zygo Corporation, founded in 1970 and headquartered in Middlefield, Connecticut, is a manufacturer of optical metrology systems and optical components and assemblies. The company manufactures products in several categories, including laser interferometers, 3D optical profilers, and optical components. It serves several industries, including medical, automotive, and consumer electronics, and also provides customizable metrology software to help customers measure. The company holds 750 patents, and in 2014, it became part of the Ultra Precision Technologies division of AMETEK Inc. It is ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified and sells its products under brand names such as Navitar, Special Optics, and Pixelink.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4D Technology Corp |
11.7%
|
| 2 | Motion X Corporation |
9.3%
|
| 3 | Ocean Insight |
8.9%
|
| 4 | LT Ultra Precision Technology GmbH |
8.6%
|
| 5 | Micro-Epsilon |
8.6%
|
| 6 | Keysight Technologies |
8.2%
|
| 7 | Chotest Technology Inc. |
7.8%
|
| 8 | LAMTECH Lasermesstechnik GmbH |
7.0%
|
| 9 | Renish |
7.0%
|
| 10 | SmarAct GmbH. |
6.2%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the laser interferometer page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
4 | 50.0% |
|
Germany
|
3 | 37.5% |
Japan
|
1 | 12.5% |
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