White Paper: Negative-Stiffness Vibration Isolation Gaining Popularity As The Need For Refined Imaging With Laser/Optical Systems Increases

By Jim McMahon

Laser and optical systems, whether used in academic labs or industry, are very susceptible to vibrations from the environment and these instruments frequently need vibration isolation. When measuring a very few angstroms or nanometers of displacement an absolutely stable surface has to be maintained upon which to rest the instrument. Any vibration, coupled into the mechanical structure of the instrument, will cause vertical noise and fundamentally an inability to measure these kinds of high resolution features.