Dynamic absolute distance measurement by frequency sweeping interferometry based Doppler beat frequency tracking model

Abstract We propose a frequency-sweeping interferometry (FSI) with single external cavity diode laser that can be used to measure the absolute distances of a dynamic target. Generally, the FSI-Doppler effect induced by target drift restricts the measurement accuracy severely, but the Doppler effect can also be used to measure the actual movement during optical frequency sweeps. Thus, a mathematical model of the Doppler effect in FSI is presented and a novel FSI method based on Doppler beat frequency tracking model is proposed to realize the absolute distance measurement of a dynamic target. The method was verified successfully by measuring vibrating targets of 50 ∼ 5000 Hz at 38 mm in the laboratory.