Robust and precise length stabilization of a 25-km long optical fiber using an optical interferometric method with a digital phase-frequency discriminator

We have developed an optical fiber length stabilization system for the distribution of reference millimeter wave signals in a long-baseline phased-array radio telescope. The fiber length was compared with an absolute wavelength reference laser using a Michelson interferometer. We used a digital servo system including a digital phase-frequency discriminator with a wide phase dynamic range and a digital signal processor (DSP) for the digital servo system. All-digital servo system made it possible to realize a robust and precise length stabilization of a 25-km long optical fiber. PACS 42.62.Eh; 42.81.Uv; 95.55.Jz