Noise analysis of a simplified Michelson interferometer vibrometer hydrophone

The use of a Michelson interferometer to sense acoustic vibrations imposed on a water/plate/air boundary is investigated. To focus on fundamentals, a simplified interferometer is considered rather than the usual heterodyne or dual track homodyne configurations. Based on analytical models, the sensitivity limits due to photoelectron shot noise, laser light amplitude and phase noise, atmospheric turbulence, thermal vibration, and amplifier noise are predicted. Techniques for mitigation of turbulence and laser noise will be discussed.