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This section provides an overview for interferometers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 29 interferometer manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked interferometer companies as of December, 2024: 1.Prisms India Private Limited, 2.Thorlabs, Inc, 3.KLA Corporation..
Table of Contents
An interferometer is a device that measures the surface shape, refractive index, size, etc. of an object by measuring the interference phenomenon that occurs when light is shone on the object.
The interference phenomenon is the superposition of multiple waves that strengthen or cancel each other to form a new waveform. It is most noticeable when the waves originate from the same wave source or have the same or close frequencies.
There are several types of interferometers, including Michelson interferometers, Mach-Zehnder interferometers, and Fizeau interferometers.
The main application of interferometers is the non-contact observation of object surfaces, including flat plates such as glass, metal, and ceramics. For example, glass-based applications include cover glass for smartphones and other devices, glass for LCDs, prisms used in color-resolved optics, and semiconductor mask substrates, while metal-based applications include molds and aluminum disks.
Other special items such as silicon wafers used in semiconductor devices for electronic equipment and hard disk substrates can also be measured. Radio interferometry is also a mechanism used in astronomical observations with radio telescopes.
Major interferometers split the light emitted from the light source into two beams, and one beam is transmitted through the sample and interferes with the other beam. The optical distance varies depending on the refractive index and distance of the transmitted sample, resulting in the appearance of a pattern of interference fringes.
By analyzing this pattern of interference fringes, the interferometer can measure the surface profile of the sample and the shape of the transmitted wavefront. The size of a sample that can be measured with an interferometer is a few to several dozen centimeters at the most. If the sample to be measured is large, it must be cut into pieces, etc.
Interferometers are available that can measure polished surface planes such as glass planes, wafers, and mirrors, as well as spherical surfaces such as optical lenses, steel balls, and plastic lenses. There are also multi-axis interferometers that measure in two or three axes, and these multi-axis interferometers provide more sensitive measurements in a smaller space.
Laser scanning interferometers can also measure non-planar surfaces such as cylindrical surfaces. They are used to measure glass, fiber end faces, ceramics, ground metal surfaces, and plastics in injection-molded products. Various types of interferometers are available, so the choice should be made according to the application.
When multiple waves are superimposed, the amplitude of the new wave at a point coincides with the sum of the amplitudes of all the waves affecting that point. In this case, the waves strengthen each other where their phases match and weaken each other where their phases are reversed, which is called interference. An interferometer is a device to observe the state of an object by observing the interference fringes produced in this case.
A Fizeau interferometer is an interferometer that uses a laser as its light source. The measurement mechanism is as follows.
Fizeau interferometers are characterized by their simple configuration and high accuracy for plane and spherical measurements.
Numerical analysis is performed using the obtained interference fringes. One of the typical methods is the Fourier transform.
By performing the Fourier transform, the frequency spectrum is extracted from the interference fringes. By inverse Fourier transforming the extracted spectrum, phase information of the measured material is obtained.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Manufacturer of Precision Plano Optics and Optical Instruments. Caters to Space Depatments, Machine Tool Industry, Optics Instruments manufacturers, Research Organisations, Educational Institutions. Prisms India Optics Manufcaturing capability to achieve Lambda/20 on Flatness and 1 arc sec on angles.
Luna Innovations, founded in 1990, is a manufacturer of fiber optic sensing and non-destructive testing products such as high-definition strain & temperature sensors, interrogators, transmitters & receivers, control units, and accessories. Based in Roanoke, Virginia, the company engages in sensing and non-destructive testing, communications testing, and photonic control. They produce products for photonic control and communication testing, including fiber coils, reflectometers, distributed component analyzers, instruments, and meters.The products are used in the communication, aerospace, automotive, and energy industries.
Front Edge Technology is a supplier and manufacturer of advanced electronic components and solutions based in United States. Established in 1985, the company specializes in the design, development, and production of custom electronic products for various industries. the company offers a range of products, including embedded systems, wireless communication modules, power management solutions, and sensor devices. They cater to sectors such as automotive, healthcare, industrial automation, and consumer electronics. One sample product is the "FET-6000 Series" wireless communication module. This module provides dependable and efficient wireless connectivity for IoT (Internet of Things) applications, enabling seamless data transfer and communication between devices.
Thorlabs, Inc, established in Newton, NJ in 1989, is a manufacturer of photonics equipment for research, manufacturing, and biomedical applications. Their product portfolio includes optical components, for use in imaging, sensing, and spectroscopy applications, spectrometers and analyzers used for research and industrial applications, fiber optic components and photomultiplier tubes, and imaging devices that capture and measure light signals for diverse applications in scientific research. The company has sales offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, China, and Brazil.
Santec Corporation, founded in Nagoya, Japan in 1979 is a manufacturer of Tunable Lasers, Optical Test and Measurement Products. The company's product portfolio includes Advanced Optical Components and biophotonics, communication Tunable Filters, Optical Coherent Tomography, and Scanning lasers for optical coherent tomography. The company serves markets including Medical and Healthcare, Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Goods, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction and Building. The company has global offices in the USA, UK and China.
Productivity Quality Inc., set up in 1993 and based in Plymouth, Minnesota, is a manufacturer of machinery. The company specializes in the production of Calibration of metrology equipment, machine tool probing systems, measurement systems and gaging like dial and digital callipers, laser micrometres and height gauges. The company also offers digital, dimensional gaging, electronics and machine tool calibration systems. The company also sells pre-used equipment like Bridge CMMs, Portable CMMs, and scanning systems.
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.
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.
PLX Inc., established in 1955 and headquartered in Deer Park, New York, is a manufacturer and supplier of proprietary optical instruments. The company’s product portfolio includes Hollow Retroreflectors, Electronic Autocollimators, Ball Mounted Hollow Retroreflectors, Monolithic Michelson Interferometers, and Lateral Transfer Hollow Periscope (LTHP). It offers products used in military, mapping & topography, metrology & laser tracking, boresighting, and laboratory instrument applications. The company also offers products used in various commercial and industrial applications such as laser tracking, machinery alignment, optical testing, and long-path spectroscopy.
Äpre Instruments, established in 2013 and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona is a designer, manufacturer, and supplier of interferometer products used in the optical manufacturing industry. The company’s product portfolio includes interferometers, SCI, and accessories such as transmission flats & spheres, vertical workstations, mounts & mount accessories, beams, and pellicles The company also offers custom metrology systems including the design and manufacture of interferometry systems that include optical design, mechanical design, software, and stages, fixtures, & accessories.
OptiPro Systems located in the Rochester (NY) area is a manufacturer of precision optical fabrication machines and metrology systems since 1982. In 2011, OptiPro expanded its facility to 20,000 square feet to accommodate the company's growth. Eventually, a second building was added, and in 2014, OptiPro was named the exclusive distributor for Methods Machine Tools in Upstate NY. Three years later, in 2017 OptiPro was again named the exclusive distributor for Methods Machine Tools in Upstate NY.
LightMachinery, Inc., established in 2002 and headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, is a manufacturer specializing in the development of precision laser solutions for a wide range of industries. In 2009, the company made a significant stride by acquiring GSI Lumonics' pulsed gas laser product lines. These lines were renowned for their established capability for fast, on-the-fly marking of pharmaceutical, electronic, and consumer packaging products. The company's portfolio of main products includes advanced laser systems, optical components, and laser micro-machining tools. The laser systems are designed to deliver precision in several applications, such as material processing, engraving, and medical device manufacturing.
Renishaw, founded in 1973, is a manufacturer and supplier headquartered in the UK, specializing in designing, developing, and delivering precise metrology technology systems and solutions. The company’s product portfolio includes metrology, position and motion control systems and healthcare applications. The company also offers additive manufacturing technology, producing industrial machines for metal 3D printing. The company’s solutions and products cater to diverse sectors including healthcare, oil and gas, petrochemical, energy, and more. With offices in 36 countries, Renishaw helps companies worldwide transform their manufacturing with their precision measurement and process control systems.
Opto Tech is a manufacturer of ISO 9001 and IATF 16949-certified LED products and optoelectronic components that was established in Taiwan in 1985. The company’s products include LED packages and modules for outdoor lighting or signage, LED chips and wafers for displays or sensors, and LED displays for use in the commercial and public sectors. It also offers optical measurement and inspection tools for R&D or quality control applications. The company chiefly serves its clients in the consumer electronics, communication, and industrial automation markets.
Tatsuta Electric Wire and Cable Co. Ltd., established in 1945 and headquartered in Higashiosaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of electric wires, electronic materials, medical products, and sensors. The company began manufacturing and selling telecommunication wires and cables in 1955. In 1981, it started manufacturing water leakage detection systems, and in 1984, it began selling bonding wire. Its telecommunications division received ISO 9001 certification in 1996, and the electric wire and cable division in 1998. The company began the production of EMI shielding film in 2003, and its product portfolio includes broadcasting cables, bonding wires, liquid leakage sensors, and functional paste.
Teem Photonics is a manufacturer of integrated photonics and laser products founded in 1998 and headquartered in Meylan, France. Its integrated photonics portfolio includes photonic integrated circuits (PICs) used in datacom & telecom, integrated sensing, biomedical, autonomous vehicle, and energy industries. The company also offers various laser products such as ultrashort pulse lasers with pulse durations deep in the sub-ns range, down to 100 ps used in biophotonics, remote sensing, micro-machining & marking, and instrumentation.
Qioptiq Photonics GmbH & Co. KG is based in Göttingen, Germany, and is a photonics manufacturer that was founded in 2005 before being acquired by Excelitas Technologies Corp. in 2013. The company produces standard and custom optical systems, components, and software. These include fixed beam expanders, flat optical rail systems, and lens configuration software. The company also offers optical system and lens design, coating, and polishing services. Its products are used by clients in the semiconductor, defense, and research sectors.
Mahr Inc., founded in 1861 and located in Rhode Island, United States, is a supplier of production metrology, rotary stroke bearings, gear metering pumps, and meter mix dispense technology. The company offers a range of products, including handheld gages, stereo-zoom microscopes, planetary spinning pumps, spin finish metering pumps, and the N500 ball cage, that cater to various industries including automotive, aerospace, medical, and energy. Mahr Inc.'s metrology systems include coordinate measuring machines, optical measuring machines, contour measuring machines, and gear measurement systems to meet the stringent requirements of industries.
Mahr GmbH is an ISO 50001-certified manufacturer of metrology and metering products that was established in Göttingen, Germany in 1861. The company’s product lineup includes measuring devices and instruments for quality control applications, and metering systems such as meter mix dispense machines and gear metering pumps for accurate dosing of pastes, gels or liquids. It also offers rotary stroke bearings for creating repeatability in linear or rotary motion. The company’s products are commonly used in the machine building processes, electronics manufacturing, and injection molding.
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.
MÖLLER-WEDEL OPTICAL GmbH, a division of Haag-Streit Group, is a manufacturer and supplier of optical measuring instruments established in 2000 and headquartered in Wedel, Germany The company offers Visual Optical Instruments, Electronic Autocollimators, Goniometers Interferometer, and Optical Testing Instruments. It also offers accessories and components such as modular components, mechanical accessories, and optical accessories such as mirrors, optics, prisms, and reticles The company has achieved the DIN EN ISO 9001 and DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 certifications and offers products used in the optical industry, machine tool industry, research institutes, laboratories, and national calibration institutes.
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.
PASCO Scientific, headquartered in the United States, is a supplier company of educational science solutions since 1964. The company's comprehensive product range includes science sensors, data loggers, and lab equipment, catering to different educational levels from K-12 to higher education. Hands-on science tools and datalogging solutions connect the students directly to science and STEM concepts with classroom technology such as sensors, interfaces, and data collection and analysis software. They also design and manufacture lab equipment for physics and engineering and offer curriculum solutions.
RP Photonics was established in 2004 in Zürich, Switzerland as a supplier of digital marketing, software, and technical consulting in photonics. They provide online platforms for education and information with RP Photonics Encyclopedia which has over 1000 articles as an open online resource about photonics, and the RP Photonics Buyer’s Guide lists the suppliers for related products. Their Consultancy helps with product designing, problem-solving, and training for Lasers and Amplifiers, Nonlinear optics, Fiber Optics, Ultrashort Pulses, and Energy whereas their Software designing has products such as RP Fiber Calculator, Resonator, Q-Switch, etc. that are applicable in laser and medical device manufacturing.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prisms India Private Limited |
17.8%
|
| 2 | Thorlabs, Inc |
7.9%
|
| 3 | KLA Corporation. |
6.8%
|
| 4 | Luna Innovations |
6.8%
|
| 5 | SANTEC CORPORATION |
6.3%
|
| 6 | Äpre Instruments |
4.2%
|
| 7 | Productivity Quality Inc |
4.2%
|
| 8 | OptiPro Systems |
4.2%
|
| 9 | Keysight Technologies |
3.7%
|
| 10 | PLX Inc |
3.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the 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
|
11 | 52.4% |
|
Germany
|
3 | 14.3% |
|
Japan
|
2 | 9.5% |
|
India
|
1 | 4.8% |
|
Canada
|
1 | 4.8% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 4.8% |
|
France
|
1 | 4.8% |
Switzerland
|
1 | 4.8% |
30 products found
30 products
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