A NEW THEORETICAL MODEL FOR LASER DOPPLERMETER

The operation of a laser Dopplermeter has been generally described in terms of the Doppler effect. An alternative model is proposed which gives a more complete description of the performance of the system. This model interprets the output frequency in terms of a particle crossing a set of fringes, real or virtual. A simplified optical system is then described which can be used with both a gas laser and a pulsed laser, which is not practical with previous systems. It also shows that a laser is not essential, but only convenient.