A NEW ALGORITHM FOR ELIMINATING PHASE-SHIFT ERROR IN PHASE SHIFTING INTERFEROMETRY

The effect of phaseshift error in phase shifting interferometry is investigated. A new algorithm with two sets of 4 samples for eliminating phase shift error is presented. The computer simulation and experiment result show that the phase shift offset should be π when the algorithm is used, and this algorithm has gotten better result than the original 4 sample algorithm.

Measurement of Apex Offsets for Fiber Connector End Faces

As one of the most important geometric parameters for a PC-type fiber connector end face, apex offset can contribute to high insertion loss and high back-reflection reading. A novel measurement method for the parameter, connector rotating-π method, is proposed. With the method, the apex offset of a common connector end face is measured. The result is compared with that measured by a Norland 3000 fiber connector end face interferometer. It is found that the difference between two results is 1.8μm. Meantime, the influences of relevant error resources on apex offset measurement under rotating-π method and apex-core method are respectively analyzed, and two error equations are derived. The analytical result shows that, compared with apex-core method, if two additional sub-tilts of axis within and in the direction perpendicular to principal plane caused by its rotation are not bigger than the original axis tilt angle, the max. measurement error will then be reduced by at least 22.5% with rotating-π method. The practicability of the method is confirmed by the experiments.

Model on picometer-level light gravitational delay in the GRACE Follow-On-like missions

Laser interferometry plays a crucial role in laser ranging for high-precision space missions such as GRACE(Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment)Follow-On-like missions and gravitational wave detectors.For such accuracy of modern space missions,a precise relativistic model of light propagation is required.With the post-Newtonian approximation,we utilize the Synge world function method to study the light propagation in the Earth’s gravitational field,deriving the gravitational delays up to order c^(−4).Then,we investigate the influences of gravitational delays in three inter-satellite laser ranging techniques,including one-way ranging,dual one-way ranging,and transponder-based ranging.By combining the parameters of Kepler orbit,the gravitational delays are expanded up to the order of e^(2)(e is the orbital eccentricity).Finally,considering the GRACE Follow-On-like missions,we estimate the gravitational delays to the level of picometer.The results demonstrate some high-order gravitational and coupling effects,such as c^(−4)-order gravitational delays and coupling of Shapiro and beat frequency,which may be non-negligible for higher precision laser ranging in the future.

Calibration Method to Eliminate Zeroth Order Effect in Lateral Shearing Interferometry

In this paper, a calibration method is proposed which eliminates the zeroth order effect in lateral shearing interferometry. An analytical expression of the calibration error function is deduced, and the relationship between the phase-restoration error and calibration error is established. The analytical results show that the phase-restoration error introduced by the calibration error is proportional to the phase shifting error and zeroth order effect. The calibration method is verified using simulations and experiments. The simulation results show that the phase-restoration error is approximately prOPoOrtional to the phase shift error and zeroth order effect, when the phase shifting error is less than 2 and the zeroth order effect is less than 0.2. The experimental result shows that compared with the conventional method with 9-frame interferograms, the calibration method with 5-frame interferograms achieves nearly the same restoration accuracy.