A polarization sensitive interferometer:Delta interferometer

A new type of polarization sensitive interferometer is proposed,named the Delta interferometer,inspired by its geometry resembling the Greek letter Delta.The main difference between the Delta interferometer and other existing interferometers,such as Michelson,Mach-Zehnder and Young's double-slit interferometers,is that the two interfering paths are asymmetrical in the Delta interferometer.The visibility of the first-order interference pattern observed in the Delta interferometer is dependent on the polarization of the incidental light.Optical coherence theory is employed to interpret this phenomenon and single-mode continuous-wave laser light is employed to verify the theoretical predictions.The theoretical and experimental results are consistent.The Delta interferometer is a perfect tool to study the reflection of electromagnetic fields in different polarizations and may find applications in polarization-sensitive scenarios.

First results of CO_(2) dispersion interferometer on EAST tokamak

A dispersion interferometer(DI)has been installed and operates on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST).This DI system utilizes a continuous-wave 9.3μm CO_(2)laser source to measure line-averaged electron densities accurately.In contrast to conventional interferometers,the DI does not require substantial vibration isolations or compensating systems to reduce the impact of vibrations in the optical path.It also employs a ratio of modulation amplitudes,ensuring it remains immune to the variations in detected intensities.Without a variation compensation system,the DI system on EAST reaches a density resolution of less than1.8×10^(-2)πrad and a temporal resolution of 20μs.The measurements made by the POlarimeterINTerferometer(POINT)system and the far-infrared hydrogen cyanide(HCN)interferometer are remarkably consistent with the DI’s results.The possibility of fringe jumps and the impact of refraction in high-density discharge can be significantly decreased using a shorter wavelength laser source.A rapid density change of 3×10^(19)m^(-3)during 0.15 s has been measured accurately in shot No.114755 of EAST.Additionally,the DI system demonstrates dependability and stability under 305 s long-pulse discharges in shot No.122054.

Electron density measurement by the three boundary channels of HCOOH laser interferometer on the HL-3 tokamak

Far-infrared(FIR)interferometer is widely used to measure the electron density in the magnetically confined fusion plasma devices.A new FIR laser interferometer with a total of 13 channels(8 horizontal channels and 5 oblique channels)is under development on the HL-3tokamak by using the formic-acid laser(HCOOH,f=694 GHz).In order to investigate the boundary electron density activity during the divertor discharge,three horizontal interferometry channels located at Z=-97,-76,76.5 cm have been successfully developed on HL-3 in 2023,and put into operation in recent experimental campaign,with a time resolution of<1.0μs and lineintegrated electron density resolution of~7.0×10^(16) m^(-2).This paper mainly focuses on the optical design of the three-channel interferometry system,as well as optical elements and recent experimental result on HL-3.

Tolerance-enhanced SU(1,1) interferometers using asymmetric gain

SU(1,1) interferometers play an important role in quantum metrology. Previous studies focus on various inputs and detection strategies with symmetric gain. In this paper, we analyze a modified SU(1,1) interferometer using asymmetric gain. Two vacuum states are used as the input and on–off detection is performed at the output. In a lossless scenario,symmetric gain is the optimal selection and the corresponding phase sensitivity can achieve the Heisenberg limit as well as the quantum Cramer–Rao bound. In addition, we analyze the phase sensitivity with symmetric gain in the lossy scenario.The phase sensitivity is sensitive to internal losses but extremely robust against external losses. We address the optimal asymmetric gain and the results suggest that this method can improve the tolerance to internal losses. Our work may contribute to the practical development of quantum metrology.

Degenerate polarization entangled photon source based on a single Ti-diffusion lithium niobate waveguide in a polarization Sagnac interferometer

Combining a Ti-diffusion periodically poled lithium niobate(PPLN)waveguide with a Sagnac interferometer,two opposite directions type-II spontaneous parametric down conversions(SPDC)occur coherently and yield a high brightness,high stability polarization entanglement source.The source produces degenerate photon pairs at 1540.4 nm with a brightness of B=(1.36±0.03)×10^(6) pairs/(s·nm·m W).We perform quantum state tomography to reconstruct the density matrix of the output state and obtain a fidelity of F=0.983±0.001.The high brightness and phase stability of our waveguide source enable a wide range of quantum information experiments operating at a low pump power as well as hold the advantage in mass production which can promote the practical applications of quantum technologies.

Radiation shielding design of the CFETR polarimeter interferometer and CO_(2) dispersion interferometer

A three-wave based laser polarimeter/interferometer and a CO_(2)laser dispersion interferometer are used to determine the electron and current density profiles on a Chinese fusion engineering test reactor(CFETR).Radiation shielding is designed for the combination of polarimeter/interferometer and CO_(2)dispersion interferometer.Furthermore,neutronics models of the two systems are developed based on the engineering-integrated design of CFETR polarimeter/interferometer and CO_(2)dispersion interferometer and the major material components of CFETR.The polarimeter/interferometer and CO_(2)dispersion interferometer's neutron and photon transport simulations were performed using the Monte Carlo neutral transport code to determine the energy deposition and neutron energy spectrum of the optical mirrors.The energy depositions of the first mirrors on the polarimeter/interferometer are reduced by three orders with the whole shielding.Since the mirrors of CO_(2)dispersion interferometer are very close to the diagnostic first wall,shielding space is limited and the CO_(2)dispersion interferometer energy deposition is higher than that of the polarimeter/interferometer.The dose rate after shutdown106s in the back-drawer structure has been estimated to be 83μSv h^(-1)when the radiation shield is filled in the diagnostic shielding modules,which is below the design threshold of 100μSv h^(-1).Radiation shielding design plays a key role in successfully applying polarimeter/interferometer and CO_(2)dispersive interferometer in CFETR.

ANALYSIS OF LOCATION ACCURACY FOR AN EMITTER USING SATELLITE-MOUNTED INTERFEROMETER

Location for a ground emitter using a satellite mounted two dimensional interferometer is modeled and an analysis method is proposed, then the influences on the location caused by a random measurement error and system parameter errors, such as satellite

Fiber Optic Moiré Interferometer

A novel fiber optic moiréinterferometer has been developed and demonstrated.A He-Ne laser and three high birefringence fibers were used to configurate a fiber optic interferometer.The moiréfringe patterns formed by the interferometer depend on the arrangement of three fiber ends.The experiment results and the intensity distribution function of the interference patterns are given.

Laser Interferometer Used for Satellite-Satellite Tracking: an On-Ground Methodological Demonstration

A Chinese satellite gravity mission called SAGM (Space Advanced Gravity Measurements) is now taken into consideration.To meet its designed requirement,the measurement precision of the laser ranging system used to measure the inter-satellite distance change has to be better than l00nm/Hz1/2 within a broad bandwidth from 0.1mHz to 1Hz.An equal arm heterodyne Mach-Zehnder interferometer has been built on ground to demonstrate the measurement principle of a laser ranging system,which potentially can be used for both SAGM and future GW (gravitational wave) space antennas.Because of the equal arm length,the laser frequency noise has been significantly suppressed in the interferometer.Thus,the sensitivity better than 1nm/Hz1/2 in a frequency range of 0.15 mHz-0.375 Hz has been achieved.The result shows that the proposed methodology has very promising feasibility to meet the requirements of SAGM and of GW space antennas as well.

Wave–particle duality in a Raman atom interferometer

We theoretically investigate the wave–particle duality based on a Raman atom interferometer, via the interaction between the atom and Raman laser, which is similar to the optical Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The wave and which-way information are stored in the atomic internal states. For the φ- π- π /2 type of atom interferometer, we find that the visibility(V) and predictability(P) still satisfy the duality relation, P2+ V2≤ 1.

Characterize and optimize the four-wave mixing in dual-interferometer coupled silicon microrings

By designing and fabricating a series of dual-interferometer coupled silicon microrings, the coupling condition of the pump, signal, and idler beams can be engineered independently and then we carried out both the continuous-wave and pulse pumped four-wave mixing experiments to verify the dependence of conversion efficiency on the coupling conditions of the four interacting beams, respectively. Under the continuous-wave pump, the four-wave mixing efficiency gets maximized when both the pump and signal/idler beams are closely operated at the critical coupling point, while for the pulse pump case, the efficiency can be enhanced greatly when the pump and converted idler beams are all overcoupled. These experiment results agree well with our theoretical calculations. Our design provides a platform for explicitly characterizing the four-wave mixing under different pumping conditions, and offers a method to optimize the four-wave mixing, which will facilitate the development of on-chip all-optical signal processing with a higher efficiency or reduced pump power.

Comparison of the sensitivities for atom interferometers in two different operation methods

We investigated the sensitivities of atom interferometers in the usual fringe-scanning method(FSM) versus the fringelocking method(FLM). The theoretical analysis shows that for typical noises in atom interferometers, the FSM will degrade the sensitivity while the FLM does not. The sensitivity-improvement factor of the FLM over the FSM depends on the type of noises, which is validated by numerical simulations. The detailed quantitative analysis on this fundamental issue is presented, and our analysis is readily extendable to other kinds of noises as well as other fringe shapes in addition to a cosine one.

Analysis of period and visibility of dual phase grating interferometer

Dual phase grating interferometer may simultaneously achieve large field of view and high x-ray dose efficiency.Here,we develop a simple theoretical method to better understand the imaging process of the dual phase grating interferometer.The derivation process of fringe period and the optimal visibility conditions of the dual phase grating interferometer are given in detail.Then,we theoretically prove that the fringe period and optimal visibility conditions of the dual phase grating interferometer include that of the Talbot interferometer.By comparing our experimental results with those of other researchers,we find that when the positions of phase gratings are far away from the positions where the fringe visibility is optimal,the fringe period of the dualπ-phase grating interferometer is twice the theoretical results under the illumination of polychromatic x-ray.This conclusion may explain the contradictory research results of dual phase grating interferometer among different researchers.

Debonding Patch Detection in FRP-Strengthened Materials with Fiber-Optic Interferometer

The interfacial debonding in fiber-reinforced plastic(FRP)strengthened repair material will affect the bonding strength and lead to failure of the repair without warning.Unfortunately the interfacial damage is normally invisible and often in the form of a patch rather than a through-width crack.Therefore,a debonding patch detection technique based on fiber optic interferometry is proposed.A quasi-impulse loading is applied with a rubberhead hammer and the total elongation of a surface-mounted optical fiber along the length of the repair material is measured as a function of load position.When a debonding patch is present,the induced sudden slope or sign change on the plot of fiber integral strain v.s.load position will reveal the extent and the location of the debonded area.The results of the study indicate that the proposed technique is applicable for debonding patch detection in repaired members under various support conditions.

Systematic error suppression scheme of the weak equivalence principle test by dual atom interferometers in space based on spectral correlation

Systematic error suppression and test data processing are very important in improving the accuracy and sensitivity of the atom interferometer(AI)-based weak-equivalence-principle(WEP) test in space. Here we present a spectrum correlation method to investigate the test data of the AI-based WEP test in space by analyzing the characteristics of systematic errors and noises. The power spectrum of the Eotvos coefficient η, systematic errors, and noises in AI-based WEP test in space are analyzed and calculated in detail. By using the method, the WEP violation signal is modulated from direct current(DC) frequency band to alternating current(AC) frequency band. We find that the signal can be effectively extracted and the influence of systematic errors can be greatly suppressed by analyzing the power spectrum of the test data when the spacecraft is in an inertial pointing mode. Furthermore, the relation between the Eotvos coefficient η and the number of measurements is obtained under certain simulated parameters. This method will be useful for both isotopic and nonisotopic AI-based WEP tests in space.

Atom interferometers with weak-measurement path detectors and their quantum mechanical analysis

According to the orthodox interpretation of quantum physics, wave-particle duality(WPD) is the intrinsic property of all massive microscopic particles. All gedanken or realistic experiments based on atom interferometers(AI) have so far upheld the principle of WPD, either by the mechanism of the Heisenberg’s position-momentum uncertainty relation or by quantum entanglement. In this paper, we propose and make a systematic quantum mechanical analysis of several schemes of weak-measurement atom interferometer(WM-AI) and compare them with the historical schemes of strongmeasurement atom interferometer(SM-AI), such as Einstein’s recoiling slit and Feynman’s light microscope. As the critical part of these WM-AI setups, a weak-measurement path detector(WM-PD) deliberately interacting with the atomic internal electronic quantum states is designed and used to probe the which-path information of the atom, while only inducing negligible perturbation of the atomic center-of-mass motion. Another instrument that is used to directly interact with the atomic center-of-mass while being insensitive to the internal electronic quantum states is used to monitor the atomic centerof-mass interference pattern. Two typical schemes of WM-PD are considered. The first is the micromaser-cavity path detector, which allows us to probe the spontaneously emitted microwave photon from the incoming Rydberg atom in its excited electronic state and record unanimously the which-path information of the atom. The second is the optical-lattice Bragg-grating path detector, which can split the incoming atom beam into two different directions as determined by the internal electronic state and thus encode the which-path information of the atom into the internal states of the atom. We have used standard quantum mechanics to analyze the evolution of the atomic center-of-mass and internal electronic state wave function by directly solving Schr¨odinger’s equation for the composite atom-electron-photon system in these WM-AIs. We have also compared our analysis with the theoretical and experimental studies that have been presented in the previous literature. The results show that the two sets of instruments can work separately, collectively, and without mutual exclusion to enable simultaneous observation of both wave and particle nature of the atoms to a much higher level than the historical SM-AIs, while avoiding degradation from Heisenberg’s uncertainty relation and quantum entanglement. We have further investigated the space–time evolution of the internal electronic quantum state, as well as the combined atom–detector system and identified the microscopic origin and role of quantum entanglement, as emphasized in numerous previous studies. Based on these physics insights and theoretical analyses, we have proposed several new WM-AI schemes that can help to elucidate the puzzling physics of the WPD of the atoms. The principle of WM-AI scheme and quantum mechanical analyses made in this work can be directly extended to examine the principle of WPD for other massive particles.

A novel polarization interferometer for measuring upper atmospheric winds

A static polarization interferometer for measuring upper atmospheric winds is presented,based on two Savart plates with their optical axes perpendicular to each other.The principle and characteristics of the interferometer are described.The interferometer with a wide field of view can offer a stable benchmark optical path difference over a specified spectral region of 0.55-0.63 μm because there are no quarter wave plates.Since the instrument employs a straight line common-path configuration but without moving parts and slits,it is very compact,simple,inherently robust and has high throughput.The paper is limited to a theoretical analysis.

Bench test of interferometer measurement for the Keda Reconnection eXperiment device(KRX)

Motivated by the need of the electron density measurement for the Keda Reconnection eXperiment(KRX)facility which is under development,an interferometer system has been designed and tested in bench.The 320 GHz solid-state microwave source with 1 mm wavelength is used to fulfill the high phase difference measurement in such low temperature plasma device.The results of the bench test show that the phase difference is accurately measured.In contrast to tens of degrees of phase shift expected to be measured on the KRX,the system noise(~1°)is low enough for the KRX diagnostics.In order to optimize the system for better performance,we utilize the Terasense sub-THz imaging system to adjust alignment.The interferometer system has also been calibrated via changing of the optical path length controlled by the piezo inertial motor.Simultaneously,high density polyethylene thin film is introduced successfully to change a tiny phase difference and test the sensitivity of the interferometer system.

LIGO Experiments Cannot Detect Gravitational Waves by Using Laser Michelson Interferometers—Light’s Wavelength and Speed Change Simultaneously When Gravitational Waves Exist Which Make the Detections of Gravitational Waves Impossible for LIGO Experiments

It is proved strictly based on general relativity that two important factors are neglected in LIGO experiments by using Michelson interferometers so that fatal mistakes were caused. One is that the gravitational wave changes the wavelength of light. Another is that light’s speed is not a constant when gravitational waves exist. According to general relativity, gravitational wave affects spatial distance, so it also affects the wavelength of light synchronously. By considering this fact, the phase differences of lasers were invariable when gravitational waves passed through Michelson interferometers. In addition, when gravitational waves exist, the spatial part of metric changes but the time part of metric is unchanged. In this way, light’s speed is not a constant. When the calculation method of time difference is used in LIGO experiments, the phase shift of interference fringes is still zero. So the design principle of LIGO experiment is wrong. It was impossible for LIGO to detect gravitational wave by using Michelson interferometers. Because light’s speed is not a constant, the signals of LIGO experiments become mismatching. It means that these signals are noises actually, caused by occasional reasons, no gravitational waves are detected really. In fact, in the history of physics, Michelson and Morley tried to find the absolute motion of the earth by using Michelson interferometers but failed at last. The basic principle of LIGO experiment is the same as that of Michelson-Morley experiment in which the phases of lights were invariable. Only zero result can be obtained, so LIGO experiments are destined failed to find gravitational waves.

On Gravitational Waves: Did We Simply Detect the Gravitational Effect of the Sun on the Photons Moving in the Cavity of Interferometers LIGO and VIRGO?

On September 14, 2015 09:50:45 UTC, the two laser interferometers of the LIGO program simultaneously observed a first gravitational wave signal called GW150914. With the commissioning of the VIRGO interferometer in 2017, two other detections, GW170814 and GW170817, were observed and their positions given accurately by LIGO and VIRGO. In this article, I argue that the photons circulating in the cavities of the three interferometers of LIGO and VIRGO were sensitive to the field of attraction of the planets of our Solar System and more particularly to that of the Sun, and would not be due to a coalescence of black hole or neutron stars. The shape of the signals obtained by my interaction model (called GEAR) between the photons in the interferometer cavity and the gravitational field of the Sun is very similar to that of a compact binary coalescence, identical to those obtained by general relativity. Solving the equations of GEAR also gives the exact positions and pseudo-date of the coalescences of all the LIGO and VIRGO detections detected so far, and probably those that will come at the end of 2018 and beyond.