The Raspberry Pi auto-aligner: Machine learning for automated alignment of laser beams

Mathew, Renju S.; O’Donnell, Roshan; Pizzey, Danielle; Hughes, Ifan G.

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.

Citation

Mathew, R. S., O’Donnell, R., Pizzey, D., & Hughes, I. G. (2021). The Raspberry Pi auto-aligner: Machine learning for automated alignment of laser beams. Review of Scientific Instruments, 92(1), Article 015117. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0032588

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 22, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jan 19, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Deposit Date: Feb 24, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 24, 2021
• Journal: Review of Scientific Instruments
• Print ISSN: 0034-6748
• Electronic ISSN: 1089-7623
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 92
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 015117
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0032588
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1246170