Interferometric Amplification and Suppression of External Beam Shifts

Area of Science:

• Optical physics
• Interferometry
• Metrology

Background:

• Interferometers excel at internal measurements.
• Detecting external effects with interferometers is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of a Dove prism within an interferometer arm.
• To enhance the detection of minute external effects.
• To explore passive beam stabilization techniques.

Main Methods:

• Derivation of amplification principles for small input beam tilts and displacements.
• Experimental implementation of an interferometer with an integrated Dove prism.
• Analysis of signal amplification in the dark output port.
• Evaluation of beam filtering in the bright output port.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated amplification of small external disturbances in the interferometer's dark output port.
• Achieved a clear improvement in measurement signal quality.
• Showcased passive filtering of input beam disturbances in the bright output port.

Conclusions:

• A Dove prism integrated into an interferometer arm can significantly enhance sensitivity to external effects.
• This setup enables weak value amplification-like phenomena for improved metrology.
• The device offers a passive solution for beam stabilization.