Interferometer-less coherent optical range finder

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology 2001-05, Vol.19 (5), p.666-672
• Main Authors: Chen-Chia Wang, Trivedi, S.B., Feng Jin, Khurgin, J., Temple, D., Hommerich, U., Gad, E., Fow-Sen Choa, Yu-Sung Wu, Corder, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical optical imaging; Coherence; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency; Frequency domains; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); High speed optical techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Interferometers; Laser beams; Laser modes; Laser radar; Measurements common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Metrology, measurements and laboratory procedures; Optical elements, devices, and systems; Optical frequency; Optical instruments, equipment and techniques; Optical interferometry; Optical range finders; Optical sensors; Optics; Photodiodes; Physics; Pulsed lasers; Range finders, remote sensing devices, laser doppler velocimeters, sar, and lidar; Reflectometry; Sensors; Spatial dimensions (e.g.: position, lengths, volume, angles, displacements, including nanometer-scale displacements); Spatial dimensions (eg, position, lengths, volume, angles, displacements, including nanometer-scale displacements); Spatial resolution
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/50.923479

A new coherent optical detection technique employing coherent frequency-domain reflectometry and a novel optical frequency sensor is demonstrated for high-precision optical path-length measurements. Using pulsed laser sources, an improvement of more than two orders of magnitude in spatial resolution over conventional optical coherent frequency domain reflectometry techniques is demonstrated. Varying degrees of spatial resolution ranging from several centimeters to a few hundred nanometers are achieved. High-precision distance measurement with long baseline is also presented.