Phase-sensitive swept-source interferometry for absolute ranging with application to measurements of group refractive index and thickness

Opt Express. 2011 Apr 25;19(9):8117-26. doi: 10.1364/OE.19.008117.

Abstract

Interferometric range measurements using a wavelength-tunable source form the basis of several measurement techniques, including optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), and frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) lidar. We present a phase-sensitive and self-referenced approach to swept-source interferometry that yields absolute range measurements with axial precision three orders of magnitude better than the transform-limited axial resolution of the system. As an example application, we implement the proposed method for a simultaneous measurement of group refractive index and thickness of an optical glass sample.

MeSH terms

  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Interferometry / instrumentation*
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*