Analysis of a loss-compensated recirculating delayed self-heterodyne interferometer for laser linewidth measurement

A loss-compensated recirculating delayed self-heterodyne interferometer (LC-RDSHI) for laser linewidth measurement is theoretically analyzed. An analytical result for the output spectrum of the LC-RDSHI is obtained. It is found that the spectrum from a LC-RDSHI is equivalent to a spectrum from a conventional delayed self-heterodyne interferometer with equivalent time delay and frequency shift, but modified by a periodical function, which could significantly influence the laser linewidth measurement. The parameters of a LC-RDSHI must be optimized to permit an accurate and direct measurement of laser linewidth from the output spectrum.