Interferometric measurements of high temperature objects
by electronic speckle pattern interferometry
Ole J. L0kberg, Jan T. Malmo, and Gudmunn A. Slettemoen
Electronic speckle pattern interferometry with a cw laser has been used to study objects at very high temper-
atures. Interference patterns were observable to 17000 C, while high contrast interference fringes could be
recorded up to 1550'C. These temperature limits were mainly set by the onset of surface reactions and
melting of the objects. Examples on how the technique can be used to study deformations, oxidation shell
growth, and melting zones are presented.
1. Introduction
It may be appropriate to start by stating our interest
in interferometric measurements of objects at very high
temperatures. The main reason (and the funding
purpose) was to obtain information about the me-
chanical behavior of hot materials. This is of great in-
terest for rolling, extrusion, forging, and general mate-
rial forming. The ability to record the deformation
pattern of an object surface at elevated temperatures
should be helpful in identifying weak areas and cracks.
Typical application areas in this sense would be in-
spection of parts in atomic power plants. It is also of
interest to study changes in the surface of an object as
the temperature increases. Interferometric observation
and measurements of the growth of oxidation layers
(shells) might prove an interesting supplement to ex-
isting techniques like ellipsometry. Finally, maybe the
greatest impetus to this work was curiosity about the
limits an interferometric technique like electronic
speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) can be taken to
in terms of handling difficult objects under adverse
conditions.
Earlier optical work in terms of full-field measure-
ments on very hot objects is rather scarce. (By full-field
measurements we exclude nonimaging techniques like
ellipsometry and laser interferometry.) According to
a review paper by Sciammarella (1), moire techniques
Ole J. Lokberg is with Norwegian Institute of Technology, Physics
Department, N-7034,Trondheim-NTH, Norway; the other authors
are with Foundation of Scientific & Industrial Research, N-7034,
Trondheim-NTH, Norway.
Received 20 May 1985.
0003-6935/85/193167-06$02.00/0.
©1985 Optical Society of America.
have been used to measure in-plane deformations up to
6001C. Measurements in the same temperature range
have been reported by Burch and Forno 2 by use of their
moire camera. Stetson3 has made interesting mea-
surements of stress using speckle photography up to
9000C. In ordinary hologram interferometry, there is
the early work of Evensen et al. ,4 who used a pulsed
laser to record the vibrations of panels heated up to
11500C. ESPI work in our laboratory has shown that
the vibration pattern of a turbine blade could be ob-
served to 8000C even while the heating torch was ap-
plied on the backside of the blade.5 Such an experi-
ment demands interferometric stability for the duration
of exposure time which would be 40/33 msec (Euro-
pean/American TV standard) and by external chopping
at even shorter times.6 In the experiments to be de-
scribed in this paper, however, we want to follow the
deformation and change of an object's surface over
longer periods of time.
11. Principal Description of the ESPI
The working principle of the ESPI system has been
described in detail in other papers, e.g., see Refs. 7 and
8. In this section we comment on the basic principle of
the technique as seen in the block diagram in Fig. 1,
while the actual instrumentation is described in Sec.
III.
The interferometer block in Fig. 1 contains the laser
and optomechanical system. The interferometer is an
image holography setup with an in-line reference wave.
The in-line configuration is necessary to enable the TV
camera to record properly the pattern resulting from the
cross-interference between the object and reference
wave. The intensity of the image interferogram is
transformed into a corresponding video signal by the
photoelectric action of the camera. For deformation
measurements we want to obtain the difference between
TV frames separated by one or more frame periods.
1 October 1985 / Vol. 24, No. 19 / APPLIED OPTICS 3167
 I INTERFEROMETER -
I [Ret7__ I
1, l~ F 1~_ 1
_- _ _ - - _
Liecorder
Fig. 1. Basic elements of ESPI.
This is achieved by use of a digital store. A frame rep-
resenting the reference state is first recorded by the
digital store. Subsequently, this frame is subtracted
from the frames comingdirectly from the camera. The
difference video signal is processed electronically
whereby the spatial reconstruction process of ordinary
holography is paralleled. The modified video signal is
thereafter displayed by the TV monitor. The image of
the object, displayed by the TV screen, is covered with
interference fringes which represent the object's de-
formation between the subtracted frames.
The illumination and observation directions are
nearly in-line and normal to the object surface.
Therefore, each fringe order m can be interpreted as an
increment d of the out-of-plane surface displacement
related by d = m X /2, where X is the laser wavelength.
In the case of rapid fringe buildup observations or
measurements directly from the monitor are difficult.
Therefore, all the experiments are recorded by a video
tape recorder and replayed in slow motion or by single
frames.
III. Instrumentation
Initially the object was observed by our compact
ESPI prototype where a 5-mW He-Ne laser is incor-
porated. To block background radiation an interfer-
ence filter with a 2.5-nm wide passband was placed in
the object image branch. At -1300'C the TV tube
(Newicon) saturated due to background radiation.
To reach higher temperatures we used our standard
ESPI setup with an Ar laser installed. This laser has
the double advantage of short wavelengths and high
output power. The layout of the ESPI interferometer,
including the TV camera, is shown on Fig. 2. The Ar
laser is run at 4880 A with an output power of 100 mW.
The laser exposure of each TV frame is shortened to
-10 msec by use of an acoustooptic (AO) modulator.
The shortened exposure increases the occurrence of
successful recordings if the object surface deforms or
changes very rapidly. The laser beam reflected from
the beam splitter BS is expanded by lens L to illumi-
nate the object, while the transmitted beam is used for
the reference wave. The object is imaged by a two-
doublet lens systems L2 onto the TV photosensitive
surface after a reflection from mirror M2 . The refer-
ence wave emerges from a lens-pinhole L3 in the center
of the same mirror M2 . The filter bank F contains a
10-nm interference filter together with a hot mirror
filter to stop most of the thermal radiation from the
object. In addition, we also put a density filter of -2%
transmission in the filter bank. This filter allowsus to
illuminate the object strongly and thus further suppress
3168 APPLIED OPTICS / Vol. 24, No. 19 / 1 October 1985
/TV-/
T. digital store.
electronical processing,.
monitor recorder
Fig. 2. Optical layout of ESPI used for high temperature
experiments.
the background radiation compared to the coherent
object wave. At maximum suppression of the thermal
background radiation, the object wave was blocked by
a mechanical chopper CH except when the laser expo-
sure was on. We chose a Chalnicon tube in the TV
camera, which has a relatively low response to the
near-IR background radiation. The treatment of the
video signal from the camera was described in Sec. II
and will not be repeated here.
To heat the object various approaches were consid-
ered and tried. The natural choice might have been a
heater oven. However, the window quality of the
available ovens was rather inferior. We attempted in-
duction heating the object, which proved to be a highly
efficient technique. Unfortunately, the surrounding
induction coil obscured most of the object view. More
seriously, however, the stray magnetic field from the
induction heater really created havoc in the TV camera
electronics and made it unworkable. (Note that a CCD
camera probably would have solved this problem.) We
ended up heating the object samples by resistance. We
used a 50-Hz welding transformer which produced some
instabilities in the setup due to vibrations in the cables.
However, heavy clamping of the cables together with the
shortened TV exposures solved this problem.
The surface temperature of the samples was mea-
sured by various pyrometers. Due to uncertainties
about the emissive properties of the objects, the indi-
cated temperatures must be considered accurate only
within 500C. The temperature across the sample
varied as witnessed by the isothermal recording shown
on Fig. 3. The temperatures given in this paper were
measured on the hottest parts of the surface.
As objects we used metal plates with average di-
mensions of 2 X 0.7 X 0.1 cm3 . The size of the object
was dictated by the rapid fringe buildup with temper-
ature and the limited capacity of our heating mecha-
nism. We studied three different metals, steel, mo-
lybdenum, and kanthal, which were brought to or close
to their melting points. To observe molten metal we
melted pure tin (melting point 231.90C). The tin was
kept in a 5-cm diam circular crucible and heated by a
radiation heater.
IV. Experimental Results
Before we start a detailed discussion of the various
experiments, we shall list the main problems which were
anticipated by ESPI experiments at high temperatures:
(a) turbulence in the gas (air) surrounding the object;
(b) changes in the microstructure of the surface; (c)
background radiation; (d) overall mechanical stability;
and (e) the heating mechanism. We have already de-
scribed how (c), (d), and (e) were solved in our instru-
mental setup. We shall now comment on the influence
of the first two problems.
The turbulence created by hot air currents flowing
around the objects was believed to present the biggest
problem. In practice we found when looking at the
perpendicular side of the object that the turbulence was
hardly noticeable. The reason for this unexpected
stability is probably due to a laminar stream of hot air
flowing across the object surface. The turbulence did,
however, prevent stable interferometric conditions
when we had to observe the object from above, e.g.,
molten tin. Still, in this case, the fringe contrast over
solidified areas was acceptable.
0 patterns represent a time difference of about forty TV
Fig. 3. Infrared picture of a kanthal sample at 100 °C. Contour
interval of isotherms, 501C. Maximum temperature in center area.
R1
Changes in the object's microstructure at high tem-
peratures would change the speckle carrier. If the in-
terferometric correlation is destroyed, fringes of low or
no contrast result. This occurred during surface oxi-
dation or rapid shell growth, especially in the steel
samples where the decorrelation could take place after
a few TV frames. However, for a high temperature
alloy like kanthal we observed fringes up to -90 sec at
a temperature around 13000C. At about 15000Cthe
correlation time was reduced to -30 sec due to what
seemed to be a surface reaction taking place. The
object is white hot at these temperatures. In an inert
atmosphere such a metal could probably be observed
by interferometry up to its melting point.
The behaviour of the various samples was followed
from room temperature to or close to their melting
point. The most dramatic displays were provided by
the steel samples. A typical sequence is shown in Fig.
4 where the temperature increases at a nearly constant
rate. The time delay between selected recordings is
given in the caption. In Fig. 4(a) the plate is flexibly
bent in its confined holder around 6000C. In the next
recordings the oxidation process has started, and the
rapidly changing microstructure destroys the contrast
in the central hot part of the surface. Strangely enough,
the fringe pattern itself changes as the temperature
approaches 700'C [Fig. 4(c)]. Is this due to a phase
change in the steel plate causing a change of material
stiffness or maybe the internal strain is relaxing? As
the temperature gets closer to the point where the sur-
face shell starts growing, the deformation pattern be-
comes hard to interpret [Fig. 4(d)]. So far the fringe
frames or 1.5 sec. The remaining photos in Fig. 4 rep-
resent one frame difference (40 msec) and are sampled
Fig. 4. ESPI interferograms
showing deformation, oxidation,
and shell growth of steel sample.
The temperature increases at a
constant rate in the 600-750'C
region. (a)-(d) are recorded at
time intervals of -40 sec and rep-
resent the deformation or change
of object during forty TV frames or
1.5 sec. (e)-(i) are sampled at
-1-sec interval and shows the
growth of oxidation shells during
one TV frame or 1/25 sec.
1 October 1985 / Vol. 24, No. 19 / APPLIED OPTICS 3169
 -r 7~~~~~-
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, ,.A 4
, . - ,I, 11-7 -
1. 1.
.:. il
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-1-1.5 sec apart. The fringe patterns show the rapid
formation of oxidation shells starting as two small
islands in Fig. 4(e). The shells grow rapidly areawise,
and their thickness increases -1-2 wavelengths/frame
(or -6-12 m/sec).
The next sequence shown in Fig. 5 shows the same
steel sample at a higher temperature, 11500C. The
fringe patterns represent eight consecutive frames after
the reference frame has been recorded. The recordings
show irregular growth of the oxidation shell. Local
mountains may represent channels where oxidation
products are pushed up at greater rates.
The recordings so far have represented changes at
increasing temperature. At constant temperature, the
shell growth continues in a slower fashion. This is
demonstrated in Fig. 6 for two different temperatures.
Figures 6(a) and (b) represent the shell growth during
4 sec sampled 3 min apart at 9500C. Figure 6(c) is re-
corded during a similar time interval but at higher
temperature, 12500C.
The steel plates could be studied up to surface tem-
peratures of ,13500C(as measured on the oxidation
shells) before the plates melted. To reach higher
temperatures we replaced the steel plates with molyb-
denum samples. At 11000C, they reacted violently
with the air, whereby a smoke screen covered the sam-
ples.
The kanthal material did, however, behave satisfac-
torily for the capacity of our heater power supply. The
fringe patterns were fairly steady showing an increasing
flexibility as the material expanded. At 1500'C a
surface reaction started. This process turned into
strong surface changes as we approached the melting
point. In glimpses, however, interference fringes could
be observed across parts of the surface up to 17000C.
3170 APPLIED OPTICS / Vol. 24, No. 19 / 1 October 1985
Fig. 5. Oxidation shell growth of
a steel sample at 1150'C during
increasing temperature. (a)-(h)
X~~ shows growth during eight con-
secutive TV frames or 0.32 sec.
Figures 7(a) and (b) show two recordings of the kanthal
sample at -1550°C where the dark areas indicate a
rapid change in the object's microstructure.
Finally, we studied melted objects to see if ESPI
could provide useful information about the melting/
solidifyingmechanisms. As mentioned the turbulence
made it impossible to take meaningful measurements
of the surface deformation itself. However,the molten
and solidified metal areas (skins) could be distinguished
as regions with no fringes and regions covered with
fringes of nearly full contrast. This effect is seen in Fig.
8, where a ring of molten material is left between the rim
and center.
V. Concluding Discussion
We have shown that it is possible to use ESPI to ob-
serve and measure interferometrically very hot objects.
The technique thus potentially can be used to study
surface changes, measure material strength, and watch
crack development. The realistic temperature limit of
our experiment-1550'C-was mainly set by an air-
metal reaction on the surface of the kanthal material
and partly by the capacity of our heater. The surface
reactions might be avoided by placing the samples in an
inert atmosphere, e.g., argon. Such a precaution also
allows us to measure steel surfaces up to the melting
point.
It is tempting to speculate what temperature limits
we can reach by reasonable means. The main obstacle
is the increased background radiation due to increased
temperature and the 4 relation. Figure 9 shows the
background radiation L vs temperature in 10-nm filter
windows centered around the He-Ne laser wavelength
X = 633 nm and the Ar laser line at X = 488 nm. The
 (a)

(a)

(b)
Fig. 7. Interferometric recordings of a kanthal sample showing de-
formation and some air-surface reaction (dark areas). Temperatures
between 1500 and 1550'C. Increasing deformation from (a) to (b).

(b)

(c)
Fig. 6. Oxidation shell growth at constant temperatures T of steel
sample. The recordings represent growth during 100 TV frames or
4 sec: (a) T = 950'C; (b) as (a) but recorded 3 min later; (c) T = Fig. 8. ESPI recording of partly molten tin surface. Fringes are
12500C. observed over areas when skin has formed.

1 October 1985 / Vol. 24, No. 19 / APPLIED OPTICS 3171

 L( *.) If we want to reach temperatures above 23000C we have
to use a pulsed laser, for example, a repetitively pulsed
YAG laser at X = 533 nm. In such cases the object path
must be opened very shortly to pass the coherent wave.
If we assume an effective exposure time of 5 X 10-4 sec
and 0.2 J of laser power, we find that temperatures
above 35000Care within reach. This should take care
10 of most materials of interest.
We have observed relatively small areas. Apart from
the limited capacity of our heater the small size is dic-
A= nm tated by the rapid fringe buildup as the softened ma-
terial twisted in its confined holder with increasing
temperature. To examine larger areas we may have to
10
decrease the delay between the exposures. 6 This means
that we start using double exposures within TV frames,
and we essentially will be sampling the fringe buildup
instead of observing it continuously.
The effect of turbulence will reduce the accuracy of
our interferometric measurements. Due to the real
10
time presentation and rapid updating of ESPI, it
should, however, still be possible to pick out weak areas
and cracks even in quite strong turbulence. For accu-
rate measurements vacuum enclosure might be a solu-
tion to this problem provided the material does not
10 -
evaporate.
References
l l l l l l l b
.1500 2000 2500 *3000 T(t 1. C. A. Sciammarella, "The Moir6 Method-A Review," Exp. Mech.
22, 418 (1982).
Fig. 9. Background radiation L (logaritmic scale) vs temperature
Tin a 10-nmband centered around A = 488and 633nm. Emissivity 2. J. M. Burch and C. Forno, "High Resolution Moir6 Photography,"
Opt. Eng. 21, 602 (1982).
e = 1.
3. K. A. Stetson, "The Use of Heterodyne Speckle Photogrammetry
to Measure High-Temperature Strain Distributions," Proc. Soc.
Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. 370, 370 (1981).
emissivity of the object is set to be e = 1. If we conser- 4. D. A. Evensen, R. Aprahamian, and K. R. Overoye, "Pulsed Dif-
vatively assume the temperature limit of our present ferential Holographic Measurements of Vibration Modes of
ESPI setup to be 16000C, we find that the background High-Temperature Panels," NASA Contract. Rep. 2028(1972).
suppression must be increased by, respectively, 12, 120, 5. 0. Slettemoen, "Vibration Analysis of Turbinwheels by TV-Ho-
and 350Xto reach 2000,2500, and 30000C. During our lography," Master's Thesis, Norwegian Institute of Technology
experiments we used a 10-nm filter and effectively -100 (1977) (in Norwegian).
6. 0. J. Ikberg, "Chopped Laser Light in Electronic Speckle Pattern
mW of laser power at X = 488 nm. If the filter rejection
Interferometry," Appl. Opt. 18, 2377 (1979).
can be improved by a factor of 4 and the laser power by 7. R. Jones and C. Wykes,Holographicand Speckle Interferometry
a factor of 10, we will be able to use ESPI with an Ar (Cambridge U.P., London, 1983).
laser to -2300°C. This will bring the technique into 8. 0. J. Lkberg, "Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry," Phys.
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This work has been partly supported by the Royal Norwegian Council for Industrial Research.

3172 APPLIED OPTICS / Vol. 24, No. 19 / 1 October 1985