Open AccessReal-time compensation of the refractive index of air in distance measurement
Author(s) -
Hyun Jay Kang,
Byung Jae Chun,
Yoon-Soo Jang,
YoungJin Kim,
Seung-Woo Kim
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.23.026377
Subject(s) - optics , refractive index , interferometry , femtosecond , laser , wavelength , compensation (psychology) , materials science , heterodyne (poetry) , physics , psychology , acoustics , psychoanalysis
A two-color scheme of heterodyne laser interferometer is devised for distance measurements with the capability of real-time compensation of the refractive index of the ambient air. A fundamental wavelength of 1555 nm and its second harmonic wavelength of 777.5 nm are generated, with stabilization to the frequency comb of a femtosecond laser, to provide fractional stability of the order of 3.0 × 10(-12) at 1 s averaging. Achieved uncertainty is of the order of 10(-8) in measuring distances of 2.5 m without sensing the refractive index of air in adverse environmental conditions.