An improved PGC demodulation method to extend dynamic range and compensate low-frequency drift of modulation depth

In this paper, we propose an improved method of phase generated carrier (PGC) combined with 3×3 coupler to extend dynamic range and compensate low-frequency drift of modulation depth. The small amplitude signal(≤10-2 rad) is figured out by the PGC method to keep the minimum phase resolution and the large amplitude signal(≥10rad) can be calculated by the 3×3 fixed phase difference algorithm to extend the maximum amplitude of the dynamic range. We can get the same result to the signal with the normal amplitude(10-2 rad≤D≤10rad) by any two kinds of methods. Furthermore, the modulation carrier wave amplitude and frequency information can be monitored by the 3×3 auxiliary algorithm to compensate low-frequency drift of modulation depth and keep the system stability as a feedback. According to the result, the interferometer is able to resolve 2.0 ×10-5 rad/√Hz with a dynamic range of 182.2dB@10Hz frequency and 2Mbps sample rates.