Open AccessDeep frequency modulation interferometry
Author(s) -
Oliver Gerberding
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.014753
Subject(s) - interferometry , optics , astronomical interferometer , phase modulation , modulation (music) , physics , computer science , frequency modulation , laser , gravitational wave , measure (data warehouse) , interference (communication) , bandwidth (computing) , telecommunications , phase noise , acoustics , database , channel (broadcasting) , astrophysics
Laser interferometry with pm/Hz precision and multi-fringe dynamic range at low frequencies is a core technology to measure the motion of various objects (test masses) in space and ground based experiments for gravitational wave detection and geodesy. Even though available interferometer schemes are well understood, their construction remains complex, often involving, for example, the need to build quasi-monolithic optical benches with dozens of components. In recent years techniques have been investigated that aim to reduce this complexity by combining phase modulation techniques with sophisticated digital readout algorithms. This article presents a new scheme that uses strong laser frequency modulations in combination with the deep phase modulation readout algorithm to construct simpler and easily scalable interferometers.