Contributed Review: A review of compact interferometers.

Area of Science:

• Experimental physics
• Optical instrumentation

Background:

• High resolution and large dynamic range are crucial for stabilizing large experimental physics instruments.
• Gravitational wave detectors require precise phase measurement capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the working principles of various phasemeter types.
• To discuss methods for improving phasemeter resolution and accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Classification of phasemeters into homodyne and heterodyne categories.
• Analysis of noise sources affecting resolution.
• Evaluation of non-linearity as a measure of accuracy.

Main Results:

• Identified key noise sources limiting resolution in both homodyne and heterodyne phasemeters.
• Quantified non-linearity as a primary source of inaccuracy.
• Compared performance metrics (resolution, non-linearity) of different phasemeter designs.

Conclusions:

• Phasemeters are essential for advanced physics experiments requiring precise phase measurements.
• Improvements in resolution and accuracy are achievable by mitigating noise and non-linearity.
• The choice between homodyne and heterodyne designs depends on specific application requirements and performance trade-offs.