This thesis is concerned with the measurement of the positions of points and bodies moving in trajectories in three dimensions, and the use of a new technique of optical interference which allows such measurements to be made dynamically. A variety of existing techniques for both static and dynamic three-dimensional position measurement are discussed, and the design of the new interferometer is introduced. The geometry of points, curves and surfaces in three dimensions is examined, with emphasis on the intersection of the point loci represented by the coordinate output of measuring instruments. The coordinates output by the interferometer represent surface loci which are quadric surfaces. A method of calculating the position and orientation of a body using three quadric surface intersection curves is presented. Diffraction of monochromatic light at an aperture is considered and it is shown that an interferometer working by division of wavefront can be used to obtain continuous information about the movement of the source of radiation, with that source free to move in up to three dimensions. A lens may be used to produce a compact instrument based on these principles. The diffraction integral equations are modified to incorporate the effect of a lens in the diffraction field. It is shown that even complex lenses can be represented by a few parameters in the diffraction equations. From the evaluation of these diffraction integrals, it is shown how the movement of interference fringes provides a coordinate output and how this is related to the locus of the radiation source. A method of obtaining very high resolution measurements of interference fringe pattern movement is presented. The interferometer was built and tested and the above theory verified in practice in a series of optical bench tests. The implementation of a system which uses this interferometer to measure the dynamic performance of industrial robots is considered. The optimum positions for the instruments are derived, and the method of designing the interferometer to give the required resolution is presented.

Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / This thesis describes the design and construction of an instrument intended to measure the length noise present in optical materials. The detection of thermoelastic noise in sapphire provides the initial motivation for the instrument, though the intent is to build a system capable of robustly characterising a variety of noise sources in multiple materials. Theoretical modelling is used to design a system that is expected to be dominated by thermoelastic noise. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1295741 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemistry and Physics, 2007

Bibliography: p. 215-231. / v, 231 p. ; ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This thesis investigates the behaviour of semiconductor lasers under large amplitude sinusoidal current modulations. It focuses directly on the behaviour of Faby-Perot lasers under direct modulation of the injection current. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics, 1999

Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / This thesis describes the design and construction of an instrument intended to measure the length noise present in optical materials. The detection of thermoelastic noise in sapphire provides the initial motivation for the instrument, though the intent is to build a system capable of robustly characterising a variety of noise sources in multiple materials. Theoretical modelling is used to design a system that is expected to be dominated by thermoelastic noise. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1295741 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Chemistry and Physics, 2007

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physics and Mathematical Physics, 1999. / Bibliography: p. 215-231.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 75). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Doctoral)--Technische Universiteit Delft, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Catholic University of America, 1934. / Vita.

Thesis (Doctoral)--Technische Universiteit Delft, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-74).