Physics

Heterodyne (poetry)

Distance measurement

Laser

Phase noise

Phase modulation

Optics

Artificial intelligence

Heterodyne detection

Interferometry

Acoustics

Computer science

Phase (matter)

Quantum mechanics

Wavelength

Optics Letters

We experimentally demonstrate a method for absolute distance measurement using a triple-comb-based multi-heterodyne interferometer which has the capacity to simultaneously balance the non-ambiguous range, resolution, update rate, and cost. Three flat-top electro-optic combs generated via cascaded intensity and phase modulators are adopted to form a measurement scheme including rough and fine measurements, and the unknown distance is determined by detecting the phase changes of the consecutive synthetic wavelengths. Experimental results demonstrate an agreement within 750 nm over 80 m distance at an update rate of 167 μs.

Absolute distance measurement by multi-heterodyne interferometry using an electro-optic triple comb