Title :
Optical statistical timer
Author_Institution :
Lunar Laser Ranging Station, Obs. de la Cote d´´Azur, Grasse, France
fDate :
2/1/1999 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A new type of light pulses timer allowing a direct locking within the electric oscillation delivered by a clock is presented. The light pulses to be timed cross an electro-optic crystal excited by an oscillating electric field, which modifies the light polarization. A polarimetry at the crystal exit allows deducing the light pulse arrival time. Accuracy in the picosecond range has been experimentally demonstrated
Keywords :
clocks; electro-optical modulation; laser variables measurement; optical pulse generation; photon counting; polarimetry; pulse measurement; synchronisation; timing; clock delivered electric oscillation; direct locking; electro-optic crystal; laser ranging; light pulse arrival time; light pulses timer; modified light polarization; optical statistical timer; oscillating electric field; photon numbers; photon statistics; picosecond range accuracy; polarimetry; resonant cavity; time transfer; Clocks; Delay; Mirrors; Optical modulation; Optical polarization; Optical pulses; Pulse measurements; Synchronization; Timing; Voltage;
Journal_Title :
Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on
