Absolute distance metrology for space interferometers

Absolute distance metrology for space interferometers

Swinkels, B.L.
Bhattacharya, N.
Wielders, A.A.
Braat, J.J.M.

Applied Sciences

Optics Research Groep

2005-06-13

Future space missions, among which the Darwin Space Interferometer, will consist of several free flying satellites. A complex metrology system is required to have all the components fly accurately in formation and have it operate as a single instrument. Our work focuses on a possible implementation of the sub-system that measures the absolute distance between two satellites with high accuracy. For Darwin the required accuracy is on the order of 70 micrometer over a distance of 250 meter. We are exploring a technique called frequency sweeping interferometry, which involves interferometrically measuring a phase difference while sweeping the wavelength of a tunable laser. This phase difference is directly proportional to the absolute distance. A very high finesse Fabry-P´erot cavity is used as a reference standard, to which the laser is locked end-points of the sweep. We will discuss the control system that drives the setup and show some first experimental results.

absolute distance metrology
Fabry-Pérot cavity
laser stabilization

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:b3ddaa18-609b-4b19-95a5-6934f83c510a

SPIE

0277-786X

Proceedings of SPIE, 2005 vol. 5856

Institutional Repository

conference paper

(c)2005 Swinkels, B.L., Bhattacharya, N., Wielders, A.A., Braat, J.J.M.