Abstract
We present an all-digital phase meter for precision length measurements using heterodyne laser interferometry. Our phase meter has a phase sensitivity of at signal frequencies of and above. We test the performance of our phase meter in an optical heterodyne interferometric configuration, using an active Sagnac interferometer test bed that is flexible and low noise. We demonstrate more than of laser frequency noise suppression to achieve an optical phase sensitivity of and a corresponding displacement sensitivity of at signal frequencies above . In addition, we demonstrate the ability of our phase meter to follow full fringe signals accurately at and to track large signal excursions in excess of fringes without cycle slipping. Finally, we demonstrate a cyclic error of , above .
© 2010 Optical Society of America
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