The performance analysis of the laser heterodyne ultra-high frequency detection based on the optical phase-locked loop

Abstract

The performance of the laser heterodyne ultra-high frequency detection based on the optical phase-locked loop is analyzed through theoretical calculations and numerical simulations, considering the residual phase error and carrier stability. Appling the Wiener–Khinchin theorem, a general expression of the residual phase variance with essential affecting factors is derived. Furthermore, we define the error gain factor based on the ultra-high frequency carrier stability, which consists of the amplitude deviation and frequency deviation. Then the model of the demodulation output with the amplitude deviation and frequency deviation is presented. According to numerical simulation results, we acquired the variation curve of the residual phase variance with the loop bandwidth and the performance of the carrier signal stability. For the residual phase variance expression, the minimum variance corresponding to the optimal parameters can be obtained through the numerical simulation. The simulation experiment proves that the numerical results are consistent with the theoretical analysis. Our model for evaluating the influence of the carrier stability on the heterodyne ultra-high frequency detection can provide powerful support for improving the demodulation accuracy. The quantitative analysis of the paper will be available for theoretical basis and guidance for laser heterodyne detection based on optical phase-locked loops.