Optical Single Sideband Homodyne Phase Detection

Abstract

Independent measurements of optical amplitudes and phases by the common heterodyne method are difficult to implement at optical frequencies. Therefore, the development of optical homodyne techniques (ie. one laser source) is important. These techniques require interferometer arrangements, and in particular single sideband generation. Here, it is shown that phase modulated single sideband generation has unique properties. It requires just one electro-optic phase modulator driven by an arbitrary odd phase modulating function of proper peak phase deviation. Phase modulated single sideband generation is known from microwaves for serrodyne (sawtooth with instantaneous fly-back) modulation with 2π peak to peak phase deviation¹ or stepped phase modulation² and can be generalized to arbitrary phase modulating functions^3,4.