A wavelength-division-multiplex depolarized Sagnac-based interferometer for noise suppression

Abstract

The Sagnac-based interferometer (SI) has been developed over several decades and is widely recognized for its sensitivity and stability. Most SIs utilize polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber and polarizers to ensure polarization reciprocity, or depolarizers to mitigate the effects of polarization non-reciprocity. The depolarizing method was considered more promising from a marketability standpoint. Additionally, broadband optical sources were typically used in SIs to eliminate the Kerr effect and backscatter. However, broadband light source SIs are hindered by high excess relative intensity noise (excess RIN) generated by the self-interference of different spectral components. To enhance the performance of SIs, it is crucial to suppress the excess RIN. In this study, we demonstrate a wavelength-division-multiplex depolarized Sagnac-based interferometer and suppress the excess RIN by utilizing the overlap of two interfering lights, which shifts the primary frequency of noise outside the detection range. Experimental results show that the noise equivalent displacement at a light intensity of 42 μW achieves 170.18 fm/√Hz, which encompasses both shot noise and non-optical noise, indicating successful suppression of excess RIN.