Testbed for a fiber-optic-based laser metrology gauge

Carl E. Tuttle; Raymond M. Bell Jr.; William W. Anderson; Patrick E. Perkins; Eric H. Smith; David A. Swanson; Lawrence L. Ames

doi:10.1117/12.460936

26 February 2003 Testbed for a fiber-optic based laser metrology gauge

Carl E. Tuttle, Raymond M. Bell Jr., William W. Anderson, Patrick E. Perkins, Eric H. Smith, David A. Swanson, Lawrence L. Ames

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4852, Interferometry in Space; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460936
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

The Space Interferometer Mission (SIM) demands extremely precise and well-characterized laser metrology gauges (also called beam launchers) to monitor the internal and external optical delay quantities which are required for astrometric measurements. In general, any space-based sparse aperture system will require laser metrology gauges for high-bandwidth sensing of phasing errors. Lockheed Martin has aggressively pursued a technology development program for high-accuracy, space-qualified laser gauge systems. Part of this effort is focused on making compact, lightweight, low-power consumption, relatively inexpensive beam-launcher units using integrated-optics components. This paper will describe the design, laboratory implementation, performance, and error analysis for an integrated-optic based laser gauge that was constructed in FY 2000-2001 using commercially available heterodyne interferometer optics and electronics, combined with commercial fiber-optic cables and splitters. In order to provide for heterodyne mixing between the signals in the reference and measurement arms of the gauge, polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber components were used. The PM fiber lengths were matched to within 0.5 mm to avoid differential thermal effects in the measurement and reference arms. Steps were also taken to minimize the cyclic phase error due to polarization leakage, and the residual cyclic errors were measured. While not meeting the extreme picometer-level measurement accuracy requirements of SIM, the gauge can distinguish optical path differences to better than a 10 nm accuracy, which is sufficient for many space applications.

Citation Download Citation

Carl E. Tuttle, Raymond M. Bell Jr., William W. Anderson, Patrick E. Perkins, Eric H. Smith, David A. Swanson, and Lawrence L. Ames "Testbed for a fiber-optic based laser metrology gauge", Proc. SPIE 4852, Interferometry in Space, (26 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460936

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
14 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Surface plasmons

Lawrencium

Fiber optics tests

Laser metrology

Lithium

Fiber optics

Integrated optics

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years