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hawaiifiver
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Hello
Can anyone explain to me what measuring quadratures are in relation to homodyne detection?
Thanks
Can anyone explain to me what measuring quadratures are in relation to homodyne detection?
Thanks
f95toli said:It simply means measuring the cos phi and sin phi (or equivalenty the real and imaginary parts if you prefer complex notation) terms of the signal.
From which it follows that if you represent the signal using phasors, the quadratures (I and Q) correspond to the x and y axis, respectivly,
One obvious reason for measuring the quadratures is that you get BOTH the amplitude and the phase iof the signal, whereas "normal" homodyne detection will only give you the intensity.
In order to measure both quadratures in the MW regime you need a couple of mixers and a 90 degree phase shifter (in reality this will be a hybrid) or simply and IQ-demodulator.
If you are working at lower frequecies an ordinary lock-in amplifier will work (the "X" and "Y" outputs) .
Homodyne Detection is a technique used in signal processing to measure the amplitude and phase of a signal relative to a reference signal. It is commonly used in optical communications and quantum information processing.
The principle behind Homodyne Detection is to mix the signal of interest with a local oscillator signal of the same frequency. This results in the creation of an intermediate frequency signal that can be easily measured and analyzed.
Quadratures refer to the two orthogonal components of a signal that are in phase and quadrature (90 degrees out of phase) with the local oscillator. These quadratures are used to measure the amplitude and phase of the signal in Homodyne Detection.
Homodyne Detection offers several advantages such as high sensitivity, low noise, and high dynamic range. It also allows for the measurement of both amplitude and phase information of a signal simultaneously.
Homodyne Detection is commonly used in research fields such as quantum optics, optical communications, and radar systems. It is also used in practical applications such as radio receivers, medical imaging, and vibration analysis.