Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Series

Claremont Colleges

Biophysics

Articles 1 - 1 of 1

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Phase Modulation At 125 Khz In A Michelson Interferometer Using An Inexpensive Piezoelectric Stack Driven At Resonance, Barbara M. Hoeling, Andrew D. Fernandez, Richard C. Haskell, Daniel C. Petersen Mar 2001

Phase Modulation At 125 Khz In A Michelson Interferometer Using An Inexpensive Piezoelectric Stack Driven At Resonance, Barbara M. Hoeling, Andrew D. Fernandez, Richard C. Haskell, Daniel C. Petersen

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Fast phase modulation has been achieved in a Michelson interferometer by attaching a lightweight reference mirror to a piezoelectric stack and driving the stack at a resonance frequency of about 125 kHz. The electrical behavior of the piezo stack and the mechanical properties of the piezo-mirror arrangement are described. A displacement amplitude at resonance of about 350 nm was achieved using a standard function generator. Phase drift in the interferometer and piezo wobble were readily circumvented. This approach to phase modulation is less expensive by a factor of roughly 50 than one based on an electro-optic effect.