Ultrabroadband optical chirp linearization for precision metrology applications.
We demonstrate precise linearization of ultrabroadband laser frequency chirps via a fiber-based self-heterodyne technique to enable extremely high-resolution, frequency-modulated cw laser-radar (LADAR) and a wide range of other metrology applications. Our frequency chirps cover bandwidths up to nearly 5 THz with frequency errors as low as 170 kHz, relative to linearity. We show that this performance enables 31-mum transform-limited LADAR range resolution (FWHM) and 86 nm range precisions over a 1.5 m range baseline. Much longer range baselines are possible but are limited by atmospheric turbulence and fiber dispersion.
Roos
Peter A
PA
Bridger Photonics, Inc., 2310 University Way, Building 4-4, Bozeman, Montana 59715, USA. roos@bridgerphotonics.com
Reibel
Randy R
RR
Berg
Trenton
T
Kaylor
Brant
B
Barber
Zeb W
ZW
Babbitt
Wm Randall
WR