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Metrology

Combs rule

Nature Photonics volume 3, pages 313–314 (2009)Cite this article

The ability to measure distances with high precision is of fundamental importance. Femtosecond optical frequency combs offer an intriguing solution to the problem and could prove invaluable in space satellite missions of the future.

Length is a basic physical quantity and its precise measurement is of fundamental significance in science and technology. The ability to determine the absolute distance to an object — ranging — is important for applications such as large-scale manufacturing and future space satellite missions involving tight formation-flying, where fast, accurate measurements of distance are critical for maintaining the relative pointing and position of individual satellites. Reporting on page 351 of this issue1, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the United States describe a laser ranging system that offers a unique combination of length precision, recording speed and large measurement range.

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Figure 1: Milestones in the development of optical interferometers for distance measurements.

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  1. Seung-Woo Kim is in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Science Town, Daejeon 305-701, South Korea. swk@kaist.ac.kr,

    Seung-Woo Kim

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  1. Seung-Woo Kim
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Kim, SW. Combs rule. Nature Photon 3, 313–314 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.86

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2009.86

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