Abstract

Subject of the study. Herein, the metrological characteristics of a femtosecond laser-based absolute rangefinder designed to calibrate high-precision laser rangefinders on a 60-m laboratory comparator and in the field in the range of 2.5–500 m are investigated. Purpose of the study. To improve the accuracy of the reproduction of a unit of length in the range of 2.5–500 m, it is critical to ensure the uniformity of measurements during the determination of the metrological characteristics of optoelectronic length measuring instruments. The proposed method involves using a femtosecond laser as a highly stable coherent radiation source in an unbalanced Michelson interferometer. The pulse repetition frequency of the laser was stabilized using a phase-locked system based on the rubidium frequency standard, thereby allowing metrological traceability to the time and frequency standard. Simultaneously, the interference of laser pulses makes it possible to reproduce the unit of length, i.e., a meter, in accordance with the international definition of the meter. Main results. The actual problem of determining the metrological characteristics of optoelectronic length measuring instruments in the considered range of length measurement was solved using innovative solutions and methods. Consequently, the basic principles of operation and block diagram of the absolute rangefinder based on a femtosecond laser are presented. The traceability of the absolute rangefinder based on the femtosecond laser is also provided to the time and frequency standard using the phase-locked loop system. Additionally, the results of the absolute rangefinder based on femtosecond laser tests are presented, wherein the error in terms of the standard deviation is 13 µm when reproducing a unit of length of up to 311 m under laboratory conditions and 10 µm at a unit of length of up to 572 m under field conditions. In addition, it was possible to increase the reproduction range of the unit length using the power reserve for the received signal and a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 15. Finally, the predicted components of the non-excluded systematic error are presented. The results of the absolute rangefinder based on femtosecond laser tests correspond to the study goal, i.e., increase the accuracy of the reproduction of the unit of length in the range of 2.5–500 m. Practical significance. The results of this study will assist in solving scientific and applied nature problems, aiming to increase the reference base in the predicted area to measuring lengths of up to 1000 m.

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