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Showing papers on "Interferometry published in 2015"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the potential for the eLISA space-based interferometer to detect the stochastic gravitational wave background produced by strong first-order cosmological phase transitions.
Abstract: We investigate the potential for the eLISA space-based interferometer to detect the stochastic gravitational wave background produced by strong first-order cosmological phase transitions. We discuss the resulting contributions from bubble collisions, magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, and sound waves to the stochastic background, and estimate the total corresponding signal predicted in gravitational waves. The projected sensitivity of eLISA to cosmological phase transitions is computed in a model-independent way for various detector designs and configurations. By applying these results to several specific models, we demonstrate that eLISA is able to probe many well-motivated scenarios beyond the Standard Model of particle physics predicting strong first-order cosmological phase transitions in the early Universe.

352 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a guided tour of laser feedback interferometry, from its origin and early development through its implementation to a slew of sensing applications, including displacement, distance, velocity, flow, refractive index, and laser linewidth measurement.
Abstract: This tutorial presents a guided tour of laser feedback interferometry, from its origin and early development through its implementation to a slew of sensing applications, including displacement, distance, velocity, flow, refractive index, and laser linewidth measurement Along the way, we provide a step-by-step derivation of the basic rate equations for a laser experiencing optical feedback starting from the standard Lang and Kobayashi model and detail their subsequent reduction in steady state to the excess-phase equation We construct a simple framework for interferometric sensing applications built around the laser under optical feedback and illustrate how this results in a series of straightforward models for many signals arising in laser feedback interferometry Finally, we indicate promising directions for future work that harnesses the self-mixing effect for sensing applications

302 citations


Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors summarize the developments of quantum metrology with particular focus on optical interferometry and derive fundamental bounds on achievable quantum-enhanced precision in optical inter-ferometry taking into account the most relevant decoherence processes including phase diffusion, losses, and imperfect interferometric visibility.
Abstract: Nonclassical states of light find applications in enhancing the performance of optical interferometric experiments, with notable example of gravitational-wave detectors. Still, the presence of decoherence hinders significantly the performance of quantum-enhanced protocols. In this review, we summarize the developments of quantum metrology with particular focus on optical interferometry and derive fundamental bounds on achievable quantum-enhanced precision in optical interferometry taking into account the most relevant decoherence processes including: phase diffusion, losses, and imperfect interferometric visibility. We introduce all the necessary tools of quantum optics as well as quantum estimation theory required to derive the bounds. We also discuss the practical attainability of the bounds derived and stress, in particular, that the techniques of quantum-enhanced interferometry which are being implemented in modern gravitational-wave detectors are close to the optimal ones.

282 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An improved test of the weak equivalence principle is reported by using a simultaneous 85Rb-87Rb dual-species atom interferometer and its ability in suppressing common-mode phase noise of Raman lasers after their frequencies and intensity ratios are optimized is demonstrated.
Abstract: We report an improved test of the weak equivalence principle by using a simultaneous Rb-85-Rb-87 dual-species atom interferometer We propose and implement a four-wave double-diffraction Raman transition scheme for the interferometer, and demonstrate its ability in suppressing common-mode phase noise of Raman lasers after their frequencies and intensity ratios are optimized The statistical uncertainty of the experimental data for Eotvos parameter is 08 x 10(-8) at 3200 s With various systematic errors corrected, the final value is eta = (28 +/- 30) x 10(-8) The major uncertainty is attributed to the Coriolis effect

279 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
16 Jan 2015-Science
TL;DR: In this article, an atomic interferometer is proposed to measure Berry flux in momentum space, in analogy to an Aharonov-Bohm interferer that measures magnetic flux in real space.
Abstract: The geometric structure of a single-particle energy band in a solid is fundamental for a wide range of many-body phenomena and is uniquely characterized by the distribution of Berry curvature over the Brillouin zone. We realize an atomic interferometer to measure Berry flux in momentum space, in analogy to an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer that measures magnetic flux in real space. We demonstrate the interferometer for a graphene-type hexagonal optical lattice loaded with bosonic atoms. By detecting the singular π Berry flux localized at each Dirac point, we establish the high momentum resolution of this interferometric technique. Our work forms the basis for a general framework to fully characterize topological band structures.

233 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Experimental results show that the proposed sensor can provide an ultra-high RI sensitivity of 30899 nm/RIU, which has potential applications in fields such as gas concentration analyzing and humidity monitoring.
Abstract: An ultra-high sensitivity open-cavity Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI) gas refractive index (RI) sensor based on the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) and Vernier effect is proposed and demonstrated. The sensor is prepared by splicing a section of PCF to a section of fiber tube fused with a section of single mode fiber. The air holes running along the cladding of the PCF enable the gas to enter or leave the cavity freely. The reflection beam from the last end face of the PCF is used to generate the Vernier effect, which significantly improves the sensitivity of the sensor. Experimental results show that the proposed sensor can provide an ultra-high RI sensitivity of 30899 nm/RIU. This sensor has potential applications in fields such as gas concentration analyzing and humidity monitoring.

227 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Laser and maser interferometry may be applied to searches for the linear-in-time drift of the fundamental constants, detection of topological defect dark matter through transient- in-time effects, and for a relic, coherently oscillating condensate, which consists of scalar dark matter fields, through oscillating effects.
Abstract: Any slight variations in the fundamental constants of nature, which may be induced by dark matter or some yet-to-be-discovered cosmic field, would characteristically alter the phase of a light beam inside an interferometer, which can be measured extremely precisely. Laser and maser interferometry may be applied to searches for the linear-in-time drift of the fundamental constants, detection of topological defect dark matter through transient-in-time effects, and for a relic, coherently oscillating condensate, which consists of scalar dark matter fields, through oscillating effects. Our proposed experiments require either minor or no modifications of existing apparatus, and offer extensive reach into important and unconstrained spaces of physical parameters.

205 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The realization of photothermal interferometry with low-cost near infrared semiconductor lasers and fibre-based technology allows a class of optical sensors with compact size, ultra sensitivity and selectivity, applicability to harsh environment, and capability for remote and multiplexed multi-point detection and distributed sensing.
Abstract: Photothermal interferometry is an ultra-sensitive spectroscopic means for trace chemical detection in gas- and liquid-phase materials. Previous photothermal interferometry systems used free-space optics and have limitations in efficiency of light–matter interaction, size and optical alignment, and integration into photonic circuits. Here we exploit photothermal-induced phase change in a gas-filled hollow-core photonic bandgap fibre, and demonstrate an all-fibre acetylene gas sensor with a noise equivalent concentration of 2 p.p.b. (2.3 × 10−9 cm−1 in absorption coefficient) and an unprecedented dynamic range of nearly six orders of magnitude. The realization of photothermal interferometry with low-cost near infrared semiconductor lasers and fibre-based technology allows a class of optical sensors with compact size, ultra sensitivity and selectivity, applicability to harsh environment, and capability for remote and multiplexed multi-point detection and distributed sensing. Photothermal interferometry systems using free-space optics have limits in terms of light–matter interaction efficiency, size, optical alignment and integration. Here, Jin et al. use a gas-filled hollow-core photonic bandgap fibre to demonstrate an all-fibre gas sensor with ultrahigh sensitivity and dynamic range.

198 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a novel fiber optic temperature sensor has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated with ~9 times sensitivity enhancement by using two cascaded Sagnac interferometers, which consist of the same type of polarization maintaining fibers with slightly different lengths.

175 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a cost-effective method for active illumination using a digital micromirror device (DMD) for quantitative phase-imaging techniques is presented, which displays binary illumination patterns on a DMD with appropriate spatial filtering, plane waves with various illumination angles are generated and impinged onto a sample.
Abstract: We present a powerful and cost-effective method for active illumination using a digital micromirror device (DMD) for quantitative phase-imaging techniques. Displaying binary illumination patterns on a DMD with appropriate spatial filtering, plane waves with various illumination angles are generated and impinged onto a sample. Complex optical fields of the sample obtained with various incident angles are then measured via Mach-Zehnder interferometry, from which a high-resolution 2D synthetic aperture phase image and a 3D refractive index tomogram of the sample are reconstructed. We demonstrate the fast and stable illumination-control capability of the proposed method by imaging colloidal spheres and biological cells. The capability of high-speed optical diffraction tomography is also demonstrated by measuring 3D Brownian motion of colloidal particles with the tomogram acquisition rate of 100 Hz.

167 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The proposed TPM approach does not require anchoring the sample to a rotating stage, nor is it limited in angular range as is the illumination rotation approach, which allows noninvasive TPM of suspended live cells in a wide angular range.
Abstract: We present a new tomographic phase microscopy (TPM) approach that allows capturing the three-dimensional refractive index structure of single cells in suspension without labeling, using 180° rotation of the cells. This is obtained by integrating an external off-axis interferometer for wide-field wave front acquisition with holographic optical tweezers (HOTs) for trapping and micro-rotation of the suspended cells. In contrast to existing TPM approaches for cell imaging, our approach does not require anchoring the sample to a rotating stage, nor is it limited in angular range as is the illumination rotation approach. Thus, it allows noninvasive TPM of suspended live cells in a wide angular range. The proposed technique is experimentally demonstrated by capturing the three-dimensional refractive index map of yeast cells, while collecting interferometric projections at an angular range of 180° with 5° steps. The interferometric projections are processed by both the filtered back-projection method and the diffraction theory method. The experimental system is integrated with a spinning disk confocal fluorescent microscope for validation of the label-free TPM results.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results show that this system can well demodulate distributed acoustic signal with the pressure detection limit of 0.122Pa and achieve an acoustic phase sensitivity of around -158dB (re rad/μPa) with a relatively flat frequency response between 450Hz to 600Hz.
Abstract: We demonstrate a distributed sensing network with 500 identical ultra-weak fiber Bragg gratings (uwFBGs) in an equal separation of 2m using balanced Michelson interferometer of the phase sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (φ-OTDR) for acoustic measurement. Phase, amplitude, frequency response and location information can be directly obtained at the same time by using the passive 3 × 3 coupler demodulation. Lab experiments on detecting sound waves in water tank are carried out. The results show that this system can well demodulate distributed acoustic signal with the pressure detection limit of 0.122Pa and achieve an acoustic phase sensitivity of around −158dB (re rad/μPa) with a relatively flat frequency response between 450Hz to 600Hz.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The proposed Fabry-Perot interferometer exhibits a wavelength shift of the interference fringes that corresponds to a temperature sensitivity of 249 pm/°C and a pressure sensitivity of 1130 pm/MPa, respectively, around the wavelength of 1560 nm.
Abstract: We investigated a novel and ultracompact polymer-capped Fabry-Perot interferometer, which is based on a polymer capped on the endface of a single mode fiber (SMF). The proposed Fabry-Perot interferometer has advantages of easy fabrication, low cost, and high sensitivity. The variation of the Fabry-Perot cavity length can be easily controlled by using the motors of a normal arc fusion splicer. Moreover, the enhanced mechanical strength of the Fabry-Perot interferometer makes it suitable for high sensitivity pressure and temperature sensing in harsh environments. The proposed interferometer exhibits a wavelength shift of the interference fringes that corresponds to a temperature sensitivity of 249 pm/°C and a pressure sensitivity of 1130 pm/MPa, respectively, around the wavelength of 1560 nm.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The first observation of parametric instability in a gravitational wave detector is described, and the means by which it has been removed as a barrier to progress are described.
Abstract: Parametric instabilities have long been studied as a potentially limiting effect in high-power interferometric gravitational wave detectors. Until now, however, these instabilities have never been observed in a kilometer-scale interferometer. In this Letter, we describe the first observation of parametric instability in a gravitational wave detector, and the means by which it has been removed as a barrier to progress.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This work pushes the speed of a quantum random number generator to 68 Gbps by operating a laser around its threshold level by developing a practical interferometer with active feedback instead of common temperature control to meet the requirement of stability.
Abstract: The speed of a quantum random number generator is essential for practical applications, such as high-speed quantum key distribution systems. Here, we push the speed of a quantum random number generator to 68 Gbps by operating a laser around its threshold level. To achieve the rate, not only high-speed photodetector and high sampling rate are needed but also a very stable interferometer is required. A practical interferometer with active feedback instead of common temperature control is developed to meet the requirement of stability. Phase fluctuations of the laser are measured by the interferometer with a photodetector and then digitalized to raw random numbers with a rate of 80 Gbps. The min-entropy of the raw data is evaluated by modeling the system and is used to quantify the quantum randomness of the raw data. The bias of the raw data caused by other signals, such as classical and detection noises, can be removed by Toeplitz-matrix hashing randomness extraction. The final random numbers can pass through the standard randomness tests. Our demonstration shows that high-speed quantum random number generators are ready for practical usage.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on a twin-core fiber that exhibited a high gas pressure sensitivity and a low temperature cross-sensitivity makes it very suitable for highly-sensitive gas pressure sensing in harsh environments.
Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on a twin-core fiber was proposed and experimentally demonstrated for gas pressure measurements. The in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer was fabricated by splicing a short section of twin-core fiber between two single mode fibers. A micro-channel was created to form an interferometer arm by use of a femtosecond laser to drill through one core of the twin-core fiber. The other core of the fiber was remained as the reference arm. Such a Mach-Zehnder interferometer exhibited a high gas pressure sensitivity of −9.6 nm/MPa and a low temperature cross-sensitivity of 4.4 KPa/°C. Moreover, ultra-compact device size and all-fiber configuration make it very suitable for highly-sensitive gas pressure sensing in harsh environments.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Numerical results show that extremely large optical confinement factor of the tested analytes can be obtained by DSHP waveguide with optimized geometrical parameters, which is larger than both, conventional SOI waveguides and plasmonic slot waveguide with same widths.
Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) liquid sensor, employing ultra-compact double-slot hybrid plasmonic (DSHP) waveguide as active sensing arm, is developed. Numerical results show that extremely large optical confinement factor of the tested analytes (as high as 88%) can be obtained by DSHP waveguide with optimized geometrical parameters, which is larger than both, conventional SOI waveguides and plasmonic slot waveguides with same widths. As for MZI sensor with 40μm long DSHP active sensing area, the sensitivity can reach as high value as 1061nm/RIU (refractive index unit). The total loss, excluding the coupling loss of the grating coupler, is around 4.5dB.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a review of optical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) realized on a silicon chip that is enabling accurate control of the etching depth, the aspect ratio, the verticality and the curvature of the etched surfaces.
Abstract: The integration of microactuators within a silicon photonic chip gave rise to the field of optical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) that was originally driven by the telecommunication market. Following the latter's bubble collapse in the beginning of the third millennium, new directions of research with considerable momentum appeared focusing on the realization and applications of miniaturized instrumentation in biology, chemistry, physics and materials science. At the heart of these applications light interferometry is a key optical phenomenon, in which miniaturized scanning interferometers are the manipulating optical devices. Monolithic free-space optical interferometers realized on a silicon chip take advantage of the recent progress in the microfabrication technology that is enabling accurate control of the etching depth, the aspect ratio, the verticality and the curvature of the etched surfaces. The fabrication technology, the library of micro-optical and mechanical components, the realized architectures and their characterization are described in detail in this review, followed by a discussion of the foreseen challenges.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In single-channel HD-SFG, interferometric and spectrometric measurements are simultaneously carried out with an input IR laser scanned in a certain wavenumber range, which results in a less task than existing phase-sensitive sum frequency spectroscopy.
Abstract: Single-channel heterodyne-detected sum frequency generation (HD-SFG) spectroscopy for selectively measuring vibrational spectra of liquid interfaces is presented This new methodology is based on optical interference between sum frequency signal light from a sample interface and phase-controlled local oscillator light In single-channel HD-SFG, interferometric and spectrometric measurements are simultaneously carried out with an input IR laser scanned in a certain wavenumber range, which results in a less task than existing phase-sensitive sum frequency spectroscopy The real and imaginary parts of second-order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ(2)) of interfaces are separately obtained with spectral resolution as high as 4 cm−1 that is approximately six times better than existing multiplex HD-SFG In this paper, the experimental procedure and theoretical background of single-channel HD-SFG are explicated, and its application to the water/vapor interface is demonstrated, putting emphasis on the importanc

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Control of two-photon interference in a chip-scale 3D multi-path interferometer is demonstrated, showing a reduced periodicity and enhanced visibility compared to single photon measurements, opening a path to quantum enhanced phase measurements.
Abstract: Integrated photonics promises solutions to questions of stability, complexity, and size in quantum optics. Advances in tunable and non-planar integrated platforms, such as laser-inscribed photonics, continue to bring the realisation of quantum advantages in computation and metrology ever closer, perhaps most easily seen in multi-path interferometry. Here we demonstrate control of two-photon interference in a chip-scale 3D multi-path interferometer, showing a reduced periodicity and enhanced visibility compared to single photon measurements. Observed non-classical visibilities are widely tunable, and explained well by theoretical predictions based on classical measurements. With these predictions we extract Fisher information approaching a theoretical maximum. Our results open a path to quantum enhanced phase measurements.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This work pushes the speed of a quantum random number generator to 68 Gbps by operating a laser around its threshold level by using a practical interferometer with active feedback instead of common temperature control to meet requirement of stability.
Abstract: The speed of a quantum random number generator is essential for practical applications, such as high-speed quantum key distribution systems. Here, we push the speed of a quantum random number generator to 68 Gbps by operating a laser around its threshold level. To achieve the rate, not only high-speed photodetector and high sampling rate are needed, but also a very stable interferometer is required. A practical interferometer with active feedback instead of common temperature control is developed to meet requirement of stability. Phase fluctuations of the laser are measured by the interferometer with a photodetector, and then digitalized to raw random numbers with a rate of 80 Gbps. The min-entropy of the raw data is evaluated by modeling the system and is used to quantify the quantum randomness of the raw data. The bias of the raw data caused by other signals, such as classical and detection noises, can be removed by Toeplitz-matrix hashing randomness extraction. The final random numbers can pass through the standard randomness tests. Our demonstration shows that high-speed quantum random number generators are ready for practical usage.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new type of hybrid atom-light interferometers with two atomic Raman amplification processes (RA1 and RA2) replacing the beam splitting elements in a traditional interferometer is demonstrated, which is a sensitive probe of the atomic internal state and should find wide applications in precision measurement and quantum control with atoms and photons.
Abstract: A new type of hybrid atom-light interferometer is demonstrated with atomic Raman amplification processes replacing the beam splitting elements in a traditional interferometer. This nonconventional interferometer involves correlated optical and atomic waves in the two arms. The correlation between atoms and light developed with the Raman process makes this interferometer different from conventional interferometers with linear beam splitters. It is observed that the high-contrast interference fringes are sensitive to the optical phase via a path change as well as the atomic phase via a magnetic field change. This new atom-light correlated hybrid interferometer is a sensitive probe of the atomic internal state and should find wide applications in precision measurement and quantum control with atoms and photons.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The proposed grating-based interferometer is composed of three identical detection parts sharing the same light source and utilizes three techniques: heterodyne, grating shearing, and Michelson interferometries.
Abstract: A grating-based interferometer for 6-DOF displacement and angle measurement is proposed in this study. The proposed interferometer is composed of three identical detection parts sharing the same light source. Each detection part utilizes three techniques: heterodyne, grating shearing, and Michelson interferometries. Displacement information in the three perpendicular directions (X, Y, Z) can be sensed simultaneously by each detection part. Furthermore, angle information (θX, θY, θZ) can be obtained by comparing the displacement measurement results between two corresponding detection parts. The feasibility and performance of the proposed grating-based interferometer are evaluated in displacement and angle measurement experiments. In comparison with the internal capacitance sensor built into the commercial piezo-stage, the measurement resolutions of the displacement and angle of our proposed interferometer are about 2 nm and 0.05 μrad.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the relative advantages of implementing weak-value-based metrology versus standard methods were investigated using a Sagnac interferometer with a monitored dark port and focusing the entire beam to a split detector.
Abstract: We experimentally investigate the relative advantages of implementing weak-value-based metrology versus standard methods. While the techniques outlined herein apply more generally, we measure small optical beam deflections both using a Sagnac interferometer with a monitored dark port (the weak-value-based technique), and by focusing the entire beam to a split detector (the standard technique). By introducing controlled external transverse detector modulations and transverse beam deflection momentum modulations, we quantify the mitigation of these sources in the weak-value-based experiment versus the standard focusing experiment. The experiments are compared using a combination of deterministic and stochastic methods. In all cases, the weak-value technique performs the same or better than the standard technique by up to two orders of magnitude in precision for our parameters. We further measure the statistical efficiency of the weak-value-based technique. By postselecting on $1%$ of the photons, we obtain $99%$ of the available Fisher information of the beam deflection parameter.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that there is no influence of magnification or spatial light coherence on dry mass measurement; effect of defocus is more critical but can be calibrated and QWLSI is a well-suited technique for fast, simple, and reliable cell dry mass study, especially for live cells.
Abstract: Single-cell dry mass measurement is used in biology to follow cell cycle, to address effects of drugs, or to investigate cell metabolism. Quantitative phase imaging technique with quadriwave lateral shearing interferometry (QWLSI) allows measuring cell dry mass. The technique is very simple to set up, as it is integrated in a camera-like instrument. It simply plugs onto a standard microscope and uses a white light illumination source. Its working principle is first explained, from image acquisition to automated segmentation algorithm and dry mass quantification. Metrology of the whole process, including its sensitivity, repeatability, reliability, sources of error, over different kinds of samples and under different experimental conditions, is developed. We show that there is no influence of magnification or spatial light coherence on dry mass measurement; effect of defocus is more critical but can be calibrated. As a consequence, QWLSI is a well-suited technique for fast, simple, and reliable cell dry mass study, especially for live cells.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The merits of existing single-shot THz schemes are reviewed and their potential in multidimensional THz spectroscopy is discussed, and improved experimental designs and noise suppression techniques are introduced for the two most promising methods: frequency- to-time encoding with linear spectral interferometry and angle-to- time encoding with dual echelons.
Abstract: Multidimensional spectroscopy at visible and infrared frequencies has opened a window into the transfer of energy and quantum coherences at ultrafast time scales. For these measurements to be performed in a manageable amount of time, one spectral axis is typically recorded in a single laser shot. An analogous rapid-scanning capability for THz measurements will unlock the multidimensional toolkit in this frequency range. Here, we first review the merits of existing single-shot THz schemes and discuss their potential in multidimensional THz spectroscopy. We then introduce improved experimental designs and noise suppression techniques for the two most promising methods: frequency-to-time encoding with linear spectral interferometry and angle-to-time encoding with dual echelons. Both methods, each using electro-optic detection in the linear regime, were able to reproduce the THz temporal waveform acquired with a traditional scanning delay line. Although spectral interferometry had mediocre performance in terms of signal-to-noise, the dual echelon method was easily implemented and achieved the same level of signal-to-noise as the scanning delay line in only 4.5% of the laser pulses otherwise required (or 22 times faster). This reduction in acquisition time will compress day-long scans to hours and hence provides a practical technique for multidimensional THz measurements.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The advantages of using an optical cavity and applications ranging from inertial sensors to tests of gravity in quantum mechanics are discussed, and interference fringes are demonstrated using the first atom interferometer in a optical cavity.
Abstract: We propose and demonstrate a new scheme for atom interferometry, using light pulses inside an optical cavity as matter wave beam splitters. The cavity provides power enhancement, spatial filtering, and a precise beam geometry, enabling new techniques such as low power beam splitters ( 75% contrast and measure the acceleration due to gravity, g, to 60 μg/sqrt[Hz] resolution in a Mach-Zehnder geometry. We use >10(7) cesium atoms in the compact mode volume (600 μm 1/e(2) waist) of the cavity and show trapping of atoms in higher transverse modes. This work paves the way toward compact, high sensitivity, multiaxis interferometry.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a distributed optical fiber sensing system based on Michelson interferometer of the phase sensitive optical time domain reflectometer (φ-OTDR) for acoustic measurement is presented.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A compact and highly-sensitive curvature sensor based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer created in a photonic crystal fiber that exhibited a high curvature sensitivity and a temperature sensitivity suitable for high-sensitivity curvature sensing in harsh environments is demonstrated.
Abstract: We demonstrated a compact and highly-sensitive curvature sensor based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer created in a photonic crystal fiber. Such a Mach-Zehnder interferometer consisted of a peanut-like section and an abrupt taper achieved by use of an optimized electrical arc discharge technique, where only one dominating cladding mode was excited and interfered with the fundamental mode. The unique structure exhibited a high curvature sensitivity of 50.5 nm/m-1 within a range from 0 to 2.8 m-1, which made it suitable for high-sensitivity curvature sensing in harsh environments. Moreover, it also exhibited a temperature sensitivity of 11.7 pm/°C.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a simple, ultra compact and highly sensitive photonic crystal fiber interferometer (PCFI) for external refractive index (ERI) sensing was proposed and demonstrated.
Abstract: A simple, ultra compact and highly sensitive photonic crystal fiber interferometer (PCFI) for external refractive index (ERI) sensing was proposed and demonstrated in this paper. The PCFI was formed by splicing photonic crystal fiber (PCF) between two single mode fibers (SMFs) with a slight core-offset. The both joints were up-tapered joints which acted as mode splitter/combiner and were made by fusion tapering technique. The Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) incorporated intermodal interference between core mode and cladding modes of the PCF. When the ERI changed, a RI variation of cladding modes would occur and the output interference spectrum would shift. By measuring the wavelength shift of the interference pattern, temperature-insensitive RI measurement could be achieved. In addition, the refractive index sensing properties with the different PCF diameters were also investigated experimentally. Experimental results showed that RI sensitivity could be up to 252 nm/RIU in the refractive index range of 1.333–1.379. And it could be anticipated that RI sensitivity could be improved if the PCF diameter continues to decrease. Meanwhile, the sensor had the advantages of simple structure, small size, high sensitivity, low cost and low temperature sensitivity.