Digital image correlation technique for the kinematic assessment of laser system optomechanical mounts

A study of the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique has been made for its use in optomechanical components, such as mounts in high power lasers. An analysis has been executed on the submicro-positioning of these systems with a view to stabilising the beampointing, critical in lasers for their correct operation in different applications. DIC measurements may add distinct advantages in comparison with traditional systems to the setup, including a superior sensitivity and responsiveness, as well as lower dependence of beam sampling optomechanical components. Besides this, DIC excels in capturing detailed surface displacements with high precision, offering a more comprehensive analysis of the entire optomechanical surface that can be very valuable for posterior advanced beampointing control included in laser stabilisation setups. Discussion about its use as a high accuracy movement monitoring sensor inside laser chains is included. Finally, accuracies of around a tenth of a micron have been achieved comparable to the precision typically obtained with PSD-based systems which have an accuracy of around one micron or one tenth of a micron.