太极计划中的不等臂干涉稳频方案设计及实验验证

王绪; 高雪荣; 李磐; 齐克奇; 刘河山

doi:10.37188/CO.2026-0029

太极计划中的不等臂干涉稳频方案设计及实验验证

doi: 10.37188/CO.2026-0029

cstr: 32171.14.CO.2026-0029

王绪^{1, 2, 3,},
高雪荣³,
李磐³,
齐克奇³,
刘河山^3, ,

1.
国科大杭州高等研究院基础物理与数学科学学院, 浙江杭州 310024
2.
中国科学院大学, 北京 100049
3.
中国科学院力学研究所微重力重点实验室, 北京 100190

基金项目: 国家重点研发计划资助（2023YFC2206200）

详细信息

作者简介:
王绪(2000—)，男，河南南阳人，硕士研究生，主要从事激光器频率稳定相关的研究。E-mail: wangxu231@mails.ucas.ac.cn

刘河山(1988—)，男，安徽阜阳人，博士，副研究员，2015年于中国科学院大学获得博士学位，研究领域涉及激光干涉测距、高精度相位测量、精密指向控制、激光锁相等。E-mail: liuheshan@imech.ac.cn

中图分类号: O436
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出版历程
- 收稿日期: 2026-03-04
- 录用日期: 2026-05-14
- 网络出版日期: 2026-07-08

Design and experimental verification of unequal-arm interferometric frequency stabilization scheme in taiji program

WANG Xu^{1, 2, 3
,},
GAO Xue-rong³,
LI Pan³,
QI Ke-qi³,
LIU He-shan^{3
, ,}

1.
School of Fundamental Physics and Mathematical Sciences, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
2.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3.
Key Laboratory of Microgravity, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

Funds: Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFC2206200)

More Information

Corresponding author: liuheshan@imech.ac.cn

摘要

摘要:
激光频率噪声是空间引力波探测系统的最大噪声源，计划采用PDH (Pound-Drever-Hall)锁腔预稳、锁臂和时间延迟干涉的方法学进行逐级压制。但随着皮米测量的发展，利用空间光不等臂干涉稳频，特别是可以有效的利用现有空间激光干涉仪，无需额外超稳载体，是目前较为热门的替代PDH锁腔预稳方案。本文在太极计划第一代干涉仪光学平台的基础上，验证了利用现有干涉光路进行不等臂干涉仪稳频的方案及其有效性。实验结果显示，自由运行激光器频率噪声整体降低约一个量级，1 Hz处提升至3 KHz/Hz^1/2。通过噪声分析可以发现，在0.2 Hz−1 Hz频段，主要限制因素是干涉仪的背景噪声。在0.1 Hz−1 mHz频段内，主要为自由运行激光器的功率噪声。未来将进一步降低干涉仪噪声至1 pm/Hz^1/2，探索利用已有干涉光路稳频替代PDH锁腔方案的可能性。
- 激光干涉 /
- 不等臂干涉 /
- 激光稳频 /
- PID控制
Abstract:
Laser frequency noise is the dominant noise source in space-based gravitational wave detection systems. A multi-stage suppression approach is planned, employing PDH (Pound-Drever-Hall) cavity-locking pre-stabilization, arm-locking, and time-delay interferometry. However, with the advancement of picometer-level measurement, unequal-arm interferometric frequency stabilization using free-space laser links has emerged as a popular alternative to the PDH cavity-locking pre-stabilization scheme. This approach can effectively utilize existing space laser interferometers without requiring additional ultra-stable reference cavities. Based on the first-generation interferometric optical platform of the Taiji program, this paper verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of an unequal-arm interferometer frequency stabilization scheme using the existing interferometric optical path. Experimental results show that the free-running laser frequency noise is reduced by approximately one order of magnitude overall, reaching 3 kHz/Hz^1/2 at 1 Hz. Noise analysis reveals that in the 0.2 Hz–1 Hz band, the main limiting factor is the background noise of the interferometer. In the 0.1 Hz–1 mHz band, the dominant noise source is the power noise of the free-running laser. Future work will focus on further reducing the interferometer noise to 1 pm/Hz^1/2 and exploring the feasibility of replacing the PDH cavity-locking scheme with frequency stabilization using the existing interferometric optical path.
- laser interferometry /
- unequal-arm interferometer /
- laser frequency stabilization /
- PID control

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图 1 干涉仪光学平台光路设计图左：正面；右：背面

Figure 1. Optical path design of interference optical bench. Left: Front side; Right: Back side. M: mirror, BS: beam splitter (R/T: 50/50), BSa: beam splitter (10/90), BSb: beamsplitter (90/10), BSc: beam splitter (1/99), BSd: beam splitter (99/1), PBS: polarizing beam splitter, FIOS:fibre injector optical subassembly, P-A: periscope in side A, P-B: periscope in side B, HWP: half waveplate, QWP: quarter wave plate, Telescope-I/F: telescope interface, TM-I/F: test mass interface, PAAM:point ahead angle mechanism, BSMG: beam shrinking mirror group, QPD: quadrant photodiode.

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图 2 太极计划第一代干涉仪光学平台实物照片，A：正面；B：背面

Figure 2. Physical photo of the first-generation interferometer optical bench of the Taiji program, A: front side; B: back side.

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图 3 实验系统结构框图

Figure 3. Structure diagram of experimental system

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图 4 实验系统实物图，A. 干涉仪光学平台；B. 自由运行激光器；C. 相位计（上）及控制器Moku pro（下）；D. 超稳激光器。

Figure 4. Experimental setup photograph. A. Interferometer optical bench; B. Free-running laser; C. Phasemeter (top) and Moku Pro controller (bottom); D. Ultra-stable laser.

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图 6 不等臂干涉稳频实验典型结果，图中左轴是位移量纲，右轴是对应的频率量纲。

Figure 6. Typical experimental results of unequal-arm interferometric frequency stabilization. The left axis is in units of displacement, while the right axis corresponds to frequency units.

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图 5 控制部分框图

Figure 5. Block diagram of the control section

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图 7 自由运行激光器和超稳激光器相对功率噪声对比

Figure 7. Comparison of relative power noise between a free-running laser and an ultra-stable laser.

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