Precision length measurement using an all-digital phasemeter for heterodyne laser interferometry

Malcolm B. Gray*, Magnus T.L. Hsu, Ian C.M. Littler, Richard B. Warrington, Jan Herrmann, Daniel A. Shaddock

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    Abstract

    We report on an all-digital radio-frequency phasemeter for application in precision length measurements using heterodyne laser interferometry [1]. Our phasemeter has a phase sensitivity of 200 nrad/√Hz at signal frequencies of 0.2 Hz and above. We demonstrate the use of our phasemeter in an optical heterodyne interferometric configuration, using an active Sagnac interferometer test-bed. In our low-noise Sagnac test-bed, we demonstrate more than 70 dB of laser frequency noise suppression to achieve an optical phase sensitivity of 5 μrad/√Hz, and a corresponding displacement sensitivity of 0.5 pm/√Hz at signal frequencies above 10 Hz. In addition, our phasemeter has the ability to follow full fringe signals accurately at 100 Hz and to track large signal excursions in excess of 10 5 fringes without cycle slipping. Finally, we measure a cyclic error of ≤ 1 pm/√Hz.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publication2011 Int. Quantum Electr. Conf., IQEC 2011 Conf Lasers Electro-Optics, CLEO Pacific Rim 2011 Incorporating Australasian Conf. on Optics, Lasers Spectrosc. Australian Conf. Optical Fibre Technol.- Conf
    Pages316-318
    Number of pages3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011
    Event2011 International Quantum Electronics Conference, IQEC 2011 and Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO Pacific Rim 2011 - Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Duration: 28 Aug 20111 Sept 2011

    Publication series

    Name2011 Int. Quantum Electron. Conf., IQEC 2011 and Conf. Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO Pacific Rim 2011 Incorporating the Australasian Conf. Optics, Lasers and Spectroscopy and the Australian Conf.

    Conference

    Conference2011 International Quantum Electronics Conference, IQEC 2011 and Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO Pacific Rim 2011
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    CitySydney, NSW
    Period28/08/111/09/11

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