Abstract: An optical sensor readout Interrogates an optical sensor and includes: a microcavity sensor that receives an optical frequency comb, produces a post-sensor optical frequency comb from the optical frequency comb based on a physical perturbation subjected to the microcavity sensor, and communicates the post-sensor optical frequency comb to a photo detector; an electro optic modulator in optical communication with the microcavity sensor and that receives input light and a radiofrequency drive signal, produces the optical frequency comb from the input light based on the radiofrequency drive signal, and communicates the optical frequency comb to the microcavity sensor; and the photo detector in optical communication with the microcavity sensor and that: receives the post-sensor optical frequency comb from the microcavity sensor; receives frequency shifted light; and produces a radiofrequency interferogram from interference between the post-sensor optical frequency comb and the frequency shifted light.

Abstract: An optomechanical accelerometer includes: a fiducial mass for a microscale Fabry-Perot optical cavity; a proof mass for the microscale Fabry-Perot optical cavity, such that the proof mass oscillates in a displacement motion toward and away from the fiducial mass in response to acceleration of the optomechanical accelerometer; a basal member; microscale beams that mechanically suspend the proof mass from the basal member; and the microscale Fabry-Perot optical cavity that has a cavity resonance at a cavity resonance wavelength provided by the cavity length, receives excitation radiation at an excitation wavelength that is reflected in the cavity as dynamic cavity light when the excitation wavelength is resonant with the cavity resonance wavelength, and transmits the dynamic cavity light as cavity output light when the dynamic cavity light is produced from the excitation radiation.

Abstract: An optomechanical ultrasound detector includes: a micromirror substrate; a mechanical resonator that receives ultrasound waves, oscillates at resonator frequency fr, changes cavity length Lc, and produces intra-cavity light; and an optical microcavity between the micromirror substrate and the mechanical resonator with cavity length Lc and cavity resonance frequency fc formed by the mechanical resonator and the micromirror substrate, such that the micromirror substrate produces cavity output light from the intra-cavity light, wherein the cavity output light optically encodes information about the ultrasound waves received by the mechanical resonator.

Abstract: A pulsed laser interferometer includes: a pulsed laser; a vibration controller that produces a vibration control signal that controls a vibrational frequency and vibrational amplitude of a structural member; an interferometer controller; a pathlength control stage that changes an optical pathlength for laser pulses; a pathlength reflector that moves in concert with the pathlength control stage to change the optical pathlength of propagation for the laser pulses; a light pulse detector that produces a light pulse detector signal; an interference light detector that produces an interference frequency signal; a signal mixer that produces a reference frequency signal; and a phase-sensitive detector that produces a vibrational amplitude signal and a vibrational phase signal from the interference frequency signal referenced to the reference frequency signal.

Abstract: A pulsed laser interferometer includes: a pulsed laser; a vibration controller that produces a vibration control signal that controls a vibrational frequency and vibrational amplitude of a structural member; an interferometer controller; a pathlength control stage that changes an optical pathlength for laser pulses; a pathlength reflector that moves in concert with the pathlength control stage to change the optical pathlength of propagation for the laser pulses; a light pulse detector that produces a light pulse detector signal; an interference light detector that produces an interference frequency signal; a signal mixer that produces a reference frequency signal; and a phase-sensitive detector that produces a vibrational amplitude signal and a vibrational phase signal from the interference frequency signal referenced to the reference frequency signal.