Abstract

Previous fiber Fabry-Perot scanning interferometers (FFPSI’s) demonstrated bandwidth (BW) reaching 500 KHz.¹ Since a FFPSI does not suffer diffraction losses or imperfect spatial mode matching, as do bulk Fabry-Perot scanning interferometers (FPSI’s), very high resolution can be obtained with long cavity lengths.² Here we describe achievement of a direct optical BW (resolution) of 4 KHz and report experimental observations and theoretical analysis of transmission fringe distortions due to the finite speed of light. For the first time, to our knowledge, we quantify the significant effects of scan time and cavity loss in long-cavity FFPSI’s.

© 1993 Optical Society of America