Subfemtowatt Laser Phase Tracking

Low power optical phase tracking is an enabling capability for intersatellite laser interferometry, as minimum trackable power places significant constraints on mission design. Through the combination of laser stabilization and control-loop parameter optimization, we have demonstrated continuous tracking of a subfemtowatt optical field with a mean time between slips of more than 1000 s. Comparison with analytical models and numerical simulations verified that the observed experimental performance was limited by photon shot noise and unsuppressed laser frequency fluctuations. Furthermore, with two stabilized lasers, we have demonstrated 100 min of continuous phase tracking of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)-like signal dynamics with an optical carrier ranging in power between 1-7 fW with zero cycle slips. These results indicate the feasibility of future interspacecraft laser links operating with significantly reduced received optical power.