Single-Element Dual-Interferometer for Precision Inertial Sensing

Area of Science:

• Gravitational physics
• Precision measurement
• Optical sensing

Background:

• High-precision tracking of moving masses is crucial for gravitational physics experiments.
• Laser interferometry is a key technology, but multi-channel setups are complex.
• Sinusoidal phase modulation homodyne interferometry simplifies optical setups but shifts complexity to signal processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel sensor topology for simplified, high-precision inertial sensing.
• To introduce the self-referenced single-element dual-interferometer (SEDI) inertial sensor.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of sub-picometer precision in a compact package.

Main Methods:

• Deep frequency modulation interferometry.
• Design of a self-referenced single-element dual-interferometer (SEDI) sensor.
• Utilizing computer models and analytical methods for performance evaluation.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated feasibility of sub-picometer precision for frequencies above 10 mHz in a compact SEDI sensor.
• Showed that combining two SEDI devices can achieve sub-picometer precision down to 2 mHz.
• The SEDI sensor offers significant size and weight advantages over conventional techniques.

Conclusions:

• The SEDI sensor represents a promising advancement in high-precision inertial sensing.
• Its compactness and precision make it suitable for next-generation space-based gravity missions and ground-based experiments.
• SEDI technology facilitates drag-free control and advanced inertial isolation systems with optical readout.