External Fiber Optic Modulator

Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems Engineering, 2004-05

Liaison(s): David Hall
Advisor(s): Erik Spjut
Students(s): Nathan Mitchell (TL), Glenn Hudson, Kyle Kelley, Colin Marsh

Fiber optic acoustic systems at Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems utitilize a phase generated carrier architecture. The source laser needs to be modulated externally with a carrier frequency of 25 kHz. Northrop Grumman has fabricated a device consisting of a fiberwrapped piezoelectric cylinder. The team has produced a similar system and characterized its performance at 25 kHz.