Method for path imbalance measurement of the two-arm fiber-optic interferometer

Appl Opt. 2008 Oct 1;47(28):5065-73. doi: 10.1364/ao.47.005065.

Abstract

The path imbalance (PI) of the two-arm fiber-optic interferometric sensor is a substantial parameter; a precise value of millimeters is required. Currently the precision reflectometry and the millimeter optical time-domain reflectometry are used to measure the tiny optical path difference, but the performances of these measurements are limited from the length and the resolution of the PI. We propose a new method accomplished by interferometer to accurately measure millimeters to within a few decimeters of the PI.