Optical Doppler shift measurement using a rotating mirror

Abstract

Optical Doppler shift demonstration experiments are not a simple task since the light source cannot usually be moved in a sufficiently smooth and uniform manner to keep the level of noise well below of that of the signal. For that reason most demonstration experiments are usually performed with sound or with microwaves. Previous work have been reported using a moving mirror in order to produce a moving light source, but small perturbation of its trajectory, as small as the optical wavelength, can produce a large noise. Using a rotating mirror, in which one beam is reflected from the advancing side and the other beam is reflected from the receding part of a rotating mirror, can overcome many of the noise generating effects. In the present work we report the construction and operation of a demonstration apparatus for measuring optical Doppler shift based on a rotating mirror.