Laser differential confocal paraboloidal vertex radius measurement.

This Letter proposes a laser differential confocal paraboloidal vertex radius measurement (DCPRM) method for the high-accuracy measurement of the paraboloidal vertex radius of curvature. DCPRM constructs an autocollimation vertex radius measurement light path for the paraboloid by placing a reflector in the incidence light path. This technique is based on the principle that a paraboloid can aim a parallel beam at its focus without aberration and uses differential confocal positioning technology to identify the paraboloid focus and vertex accurately. Measurement of the precise distance between these two positions is achieved to determine the paraboloid vertex radius. Preliminary experimental results indicate that DCPRM has a relative expanded uncertainty of less than 0.001%.