Common-Arm Counter-Propagating Interferometer for Fiber Vibration Measurements

Published

November 1, 2011

Author(s)

Craig W. Nelson, Archita Hati, David A. Howe

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate a novel technique to measure the vibration sensitivity of two-port fiber-based optical components. It uses a common-arm counter-propagating frequency-shifted interferometer that cancels the vibration induced phase noise of the interconnecting fibers feeding the signal to and from the vibrating device under test. The noise introduced by the vibrating fibers can be excessive and measurements of a given device cannot be made with assurance. The proposed technique improves the vibration induced phase noise floor by more than 30 dB compared to a conventional frequency-shifted Mach-Zehnder interferometer and allows measurement of low vibration sensitive devices. A phase sensitivity of 1 mrad/g at 192 THz is achieved with this method. We also present results of vibration sensitivity of an assortment of commonly used fiber-based optical devices.

Citation

IEEE Photonics Technology Letters

Volume

23

Issue

21

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

fiber, Mach–Zehnder interferometer, phase noise, vibration sensitivity

Citation

Nelson, C. , Hati, A. and Howe, D. (2011), Common-Arm Counter-Propagating Interferometer for Fiber Vibration Measurements, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters (Accessed May 9, 2025)