Large range coherence tuned fiber optic interferometric system for application in accelerometers

Abstract

A low coherence interferometric system with large tracking range and self‐initialization to be used for remote signal processing of fiber optic accelerometers is investigated. The tracking range of the low coherence system is 1.1 mm at low frequency. Phase resolution better than 1 mrad/√Hz at frequencies below 600 Hz is obtained, with a dynamic range of ≊90 dB. Data are presented which show that if the system were used to process the output from a compliant cylinder‐type accelerometer, resolutions of ∼10−7 g/√Hz could be achieved.