Open AccessRational choices for the wavelengths of a two color interferometer
Author(s) -
F. C. Jobes
Publication year - 1995
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/93727
Subject(s) - wavelength , interferometry , astronomical interferometer , optics , physics , signal (programming language) , phase (matter) , resolution (logic) , integer (computer science) , computer science , artificial intelligence , quantum mechanics , programming language
If in a two color interferometer for plasma density measurements, the two wavelengths are chosen to have a ratio that is a rational number, and if the signals from each of the wavelengths are multiplied in frequency by the appropriate integer of the rational number and then heterodyned together, the resultant signal will have all effects of component motion nulled out. A phase measurement of this signal will have only plasma density information in it. With CO{sub 2} lasers, it is possible to find suitable wavelength pairs which are close enough to rational numbers to produce an improvement of about 100 in density resolution, compared to standard two color interferometers