Optics Lab

The main area of research in our department is optics. This lab constitutes one of the best holography labs in the Upper Midwest.

Holography is used for many scientific and engineering measurements. Stroboscopic, real-time holography has been used to study the vibrational modes of many devices such as mass media storage disks, musical instruments, and air columns. Many of the images obtained in this lab have never been duplicated elsewhere.

Interferometric measurements in real-time have been made using heterodyne direct phase detection. This technique has been used to determine the pressure difference between the top side and bottom side of an air foil in our wind tunnel. We are currently using the technique to study the shape and speed of pressure waves in air.

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