Optimal filter approach to photon-limited white light fringe detection and delay-rate estimation in an optical interferometer

Peter W. Gorham

doi:10.1117/12.317187

24 July 1998 Optimal filter approach to photon-limited white light fringe detection and delay-rate estimation in an optical interferometer

Peter W. Gorham

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3350, Astronomical Interferometry; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317187
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

We review the formalism for white light fringes in Michelson interferometers. For astronomical use, these instruments are typically limited in sensitivity by photon statistics. Thus we investigate by simulation an alternate approach to fringe detection which utilizes an optimal filter approach. This is compared to a highly successful method presently used in many such systems, based on quadrature fringe amplitude. It is found that the optical filter approach yields an improved sensitivity of between 0.3 and 0.8 visual stellar magnitudes. We also consider the possibility of using such an approach to search over trial values of fringe drift rate, corresponding to linear motion of the fringe. We find that a very significant improvement in performance is possible for system that utilize searches over both delay and delay rate.

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Peter W. Gorham "Optimal filter approach to photon-limited white light fringe detection and delay-rate estimation in an optical interferometer", Proc. SPIE 3350, Astronomical Interferometry, (24 July 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317187

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KEYWORDS

Optimal filtering

Electronic filtering

Sensors

Optical filters

Interferometers

Signal detection

Interference (communication)

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