The Raspberry Pi auto-aligner: Machine learning for automated alignment of laser beams
Renju S. Mathew, Roshan O’Donnell, Danielle Pizzey, Ifan G. Hughes
Abstract
We present a novel solution to automated beam alignment optimization. This device is based on a Raspberry Pi computer, stepper motors, commercial optomechanics and electronic devices, and the open-source machine learning algorithm M-LOOP. We provide schematic drawings for the custom hardware necessary to operate the device and discuss diagnostic techniques to determine the performance. The beam auto-aligning device has been used to improve the alignment of a laser beam into a single-mode optical fiber from manually optimized fiber alignment, with an iteration time of typically 20 minutes. We present example data of one such measurement to illustrate device performance.
Topics & Concepts
SchematicComputer scienceOptomechanicsBeam (structure)StepperArtificial intelligenceComputer hardwareLaser beamsRaspberry piLaserOptical fiberOpticsData acquisitionMetrologyMachine visionAutomationComputer visionFiberSoftwareFiber laserElectronicsInstrumentation (computer programming)Adaptive optics and wavefront sensingExperimental and Theoretical Physics StudiesPulsars and Gravitational Waves Research