Cleaved-Coupled-Cavity Laser Interferometer

The maximum sensitivity of a Michelson interferometer can be obtained by maintaining a stable phase bias pi/2 between the sensing beam and reference beam. Shajenko and Green have proposed using a tunable laser to achieve this condition. Olsson et al, have demonstrated the realization of such a system by using a tunable dye laser. In this paper we will demonstrate that the recently invented cleaved-coupled-cavity (C sup 3) laser can be used as the light source of this type of interferometric sensor. The unique feature of this configuration is that it incorporates a passive interferometer with an active source. There is no electrically active element near the sensor, which makes this type of sensor especially useful in remote sensing.