[ATM] laser and eye damage

[Richard]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anthony Stillman"

> The  problem was the coherence length (bandwidth) and mode jumping.

Yes, it always is with solid state lasers which is why (in my and 
others opinions) they are not suitable for interferometric work. Gas 
lasers are better, and much better still if stabilised. I was lucky 
enough to pick up a stabilised HeNe laser with a faulty PSU and 
repaired it. It is switchable between frequency or amplitude 
stabilisation. It is remarkably simple how they stabilise the tubes 
using a small magnet and coil, the Zeeman effect, and a heater. 
Coherence length is 100's of meters.

OOI, what method did you use to measure RI ?

Richard
UK