A Massively Parallel Imaging System Based on the Self-Mixing Effect in a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser Array

In this work we propose a massively parallel self-mixing imaging system, based on an array of VCSELs, to measure surface profiles of displacement, distance, velocity and liquid flow rate. The feasibility of this concept is demonstrated by the successful operation of a small scale prototype consisting of eight individual commercial VCSELs with integrated photodetectors. The system is used to accurately measure the velocity at different radial points on a rotating disk. The results show no influence of crosstalk. A massive version of the system will be useful in many industrial and biomedical applications where real-time surface profiling, vibrometry and velocimetry will be very beneficial.