In the paper, we explain an automated LabVIEW-controlled setup that enables interferometric measurement of refractive indices in crystalline materials using a laser light source. The setup combines a mechanical system, a microcomputer-controlled gearless drive, a Michelson interferometer, an optical detector, a data acquisition system, and a LabVIEW virtual instrument for an accurate nondestructive determination of the refractive index of given plane-parallel samples. We explain the concept, implementation, and hardware/software peculiarities of the developed system. Test experiments on different crystals yielded results that are in good agreement with available reference data. The range of potential applications of the proposed setup extends from fundamental optical research to biophotonics instrumentation, where efficient delivery of light is of crucial importance and reliable automated probing tools are needed for optical component characterization.
Keywords: LabVIEW; automation; optical materials; refractive index.