Arduino based interferometer stabilizer equipped with a digital lock-in amplifier
Pith reviewed 2026-06-30 04:54 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
An Arduino microcontroller stabilizes interferometers by running a 100 kHz digital lock-in amplifier and PID feedback in firmware.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
The Arduino-based system with its firmware digital lock-in amplifier at 100 kHz sampling rate performs real-time demodulation and PID feedback to suppress long-term thermal drift and reject external perturbations in interferometric setups, providing a standalone alternative for laser frequency stabilization.
What carries the argument
Firmware-based digital lock-in amplifier on the dual-core Arduino Giga R1 that handles real-time demodulation and PID feedback control at 100 kHz sampling rate.
Load-bearing premise
The dual-core Arduino Giga R1 can execute the digital lock-in amplifier firmware at 100 kHz sampling rate for real-time demodulation and PID feedback without latency issues that would impair stabilization performance.
What would settle it
A side-by-side test in which an interferometer stabilized by this Arduino system shows the same residual thermal drift or perturbation response as an unstabilized reference over several hours would falsify the suppression claim.
Figures
read the original abstract
Interferometric sensors are ubiquitous in precision metrology, yet their performance is fundamentally limited by environmental noise and thermal drift. To achieve maximum sensitivity, these systems must be actively stabilized at the quadrature point of the interference fringe. Commercial stabilization solutions, typically based on analog lock-in amplifiers or FPGA architectures, are often prohibitively expensive and do not not offer the flexibility needed for custom experimental setups. In this work, we present an open-source, compact and low-cost digital stabilization system built upon the dual-core Arduino Giga R1 microcontroller. The system features a custom analog front-end with programmable gain amplifiers (PGAs) and active signal conditioning, enabling direct integration with standard amplified photodiodes. We implement a firmware-based digital lock-in amplifier running at a 100 kHz sampling rate, which performs real-time demodulation and PID feedback control without the latency bottlenecks of PC-based loops. Experimental characterization demonstrates that the system effectively suppresses long-term thermal drift and actively rejects external perturbations. The resulting device provides a standalone, Arduino-based alternative for laser frequency stabilization and interferometric control in educational and research laboratories.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript describes the design of an open-source, low-cost interferometer stabilizer based on the dual-core Arduino Giga R1 microcontroller. It includes a custom analog front-end with programmable gain amplifiers, a firmware-based digital lock-in amplifier operating at 100 kHz sampling rate for real-time demodulation, and PID feedback control. The central claim is that experimental characterization shows the system suppresses long-term thermal drift and rejects external perturbations, providing a standalone alternative to commercial analog or FPGA-based solutions for laser frequency stabilization and interferometric control.
Significance. If the performance claims hold with supporting data, the work would offer a practical, accessible tool for precision metrology in educational and research settings, leveraging open-source hardware to reduce costs and increase flexibility compared to commercial lock-in amplifiers.
major comments (2)
- [Abstract] Abstract: The assertion that 'Experimental characterization demonstrates that the system effectively suppresses long-term thermal drift and actively rejects external perturbations' is unsupported by any quantitative results, figures, error bars, time-series data, or exclusion criteria. This is load-bearing for the central claim of effectiveness and prevents evaluation of the stated performance.
- [System description] System description (firmware section): The claim that the digital lock-in amplifier at 100 kHz sampling rate on the STM32H747 performs real-time demodulation and PID feedback 'without the latency bottlenecks of PC-based loops' is asserted without timing benchmarks, latency measurements, or CPU utilization data to confirm real-time operation under load.
minor comments (1)
- [Abstract] Abstract: Typo 'do not not offer' should be corrected to 'do not offer'.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for the constructive comments, which help strengthen the manuscript. We address each major point below and will revise the manuscript to incorporate supporting data where the claims require it.
read point-by-point responses
-
Referee: [Abstract] Abstract: The assertion that 'Experimental characterization demonstrates that the system effectively suppresses long-term thermal drift and actively rejects external perturbations' is unsupported by any quantitative results, figures, error bars, time-series data, or exclusion criteria. This is load-bearing for the central claim of effectiveness and prevents evaluation of the stated performance.
Authors: We agree that the abstract assertion requires explicit quantitative backing to be fully supported. The revised manuscript will update the abstract to reference the specific experimental results in Section 4 (including time-series plots, RMS values, and error bars) that demonstrate drift suppression and perturbation rejection. We will also ensure the main text includes all requested details on data collection criteria. revision: yes
-
Referee: [System description] System description (firmware section): The claim that the digital lock-in amplifier at 100 kHz sampling rate on the STM32H747 performs real-time demodulation and PID feedback 'without the latency bottlenecks of PC-based loops' is asserted without timing benchmarks, latency measurements, or CPU utilization data to confirm real-time operation under load.
Authors: We acknowledge that the real-time performance claim would be strengthened by direct measurements. In the revised firmware section we will add timing benchmarks (e.g., measured loop latency via oscilloscope), CPU utilization figures under full 100 kHz operation, and a comparison to typical PC-based loop latencies to substantiate the statement. revision: yes
Circularity Check
No significant circularity; hardware/firmware description with no derivations
full rationale
The paper is a hardware and firmware description of an Arduino-based stabilizer, relying on experimental characterization for its claims rather than any mathematical derivations, equations, or parameter fits. No load-bearing steps reduce by construction to inputs, and there are no self-citations or uniqueness theorems invoked. The central assertions about drift suppression and firmware performance at 100 kHz are presented as direct experimental and hardware facts without circular reduction.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
axioms (2)
- domain assumption The dual-core Arduino Giga R1 microcontroller can sustain real-time 100 kHz digital lock-in demodulation and PID control without latency issues
- domain assumption The custom analog front-end with PGAs integrates directly with standard amplified photodiodes for signal conditioning
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[1]
Rugar , author H
author author D. Rugar , author H. J. \ Mamin ,\ and\ author P. Guethner ,\ @noop journal journal Applied Physics Letters \ volume 55 ,\ pages 2588 ( year 1989 ) NoStop
1989
-
[2]
Zhang , author L
author author Q. Zhang , author L. Zhong , author P. Tang , author Y. Yuan , author S. Liu , author J. Tian ,\ and\ author X. Lu ,\ @noop journal journal Scientific reports \ volume 7 ,\ pages 2532 ( year 2017 ) NoStop
2017
-
[3]
M \"u hlberger , author C
author author K. M \"u hlberger , author C. Harvey ,\ and\ author M. Fokine ,\ @noop journal journal AIP Advances \ volume 11 ( year 2021 ) NoStop
2021
-
[4]
author author N. F. \ de Bem , author M. G. \ Ruppert , author A. J. \ Fleming ,\ and\ author Y. K. \ Yong ,\ @noop journal journal Sensors and Actuators A: Physical \ volume 338 ,\ pages 113496 ( year 2022 ) NoStop
2022
-
[5]
\ Lee , author H
author author J.-R. \ Lee , author H. Yoo , author C. C. \ Ciang , author Y.-J. \ Kim , author D. Kim , author T. W. \ Teo , author Z. Mahdavipour , author A. Abdullah , author B. E. \ Khoo , author M. Z. \ Abdullah , et al. ,\ @noop journal journal Measurement Science and Technology \ volume 36 ,\ pages 013001 ( year 2025 ) NoStop
2025
-
[6]
Liang , author A
author author Q. Liang , author A. Bisht , author A. Scheck , author P. G. \ Schunemann ,\ and\ author J. Ye ,\ @noop journal journal Nature \ volume 638 ,\ pages 941 ( year 2025 ) NoStop
2025
-
[7]
Rugar , author R
author author D. Rugar , author R. Budakian , author H. Mamin ,\ and\ author B. Chui ,\ @noop journal journal Nature \ volume 430 ,\ pages 329 ( year 2004 ) NoStop
2004
-
[8]
Belfi , author N
author author J. Belfi , author N. Beverini , author D. Cuccato , author A. D. \ Virgilio , author E. Maccioni , author A. Ortolan ,\ and\ author R. Santagata ,\ @noop journal journal Classical and Quantum Gravity \ volume 31 ,\ pages 225003 ( year 2014 ) NoStop
2014
-
[9]
Tsaturyan , author A
author author Y. Tsaturyan , author A. Barg , author E. S. \ Polzik ,\ and\ author A. Schliesser ,\ @noop journal journal Nature nanotechnology \ volume 12 ,\ pages 776 ( year 2017 ) NoStop
2017
-
[10]
Santi , author A
author author G. Santi , author A. J. \ Corso , author D. Garoli , author G. E. \ Lio , author M. Manente , author G. Favaro , author M. Bazzan , author G. Piotto , author N. Andriolli , author L. Strambini , et al. ,\ @noop journal journal Scientific Reports \ volume 13 ,\ pages 19583 ( year 2023 ) NoStop
2023
-
[11]
Michaeli , author R
author author L. Michaeli , author R. Gao , author M. D. \ Kelzenberg , author C. U. \ Hail , author A. Merkt , author J. E. \ Sader ,\ and\ author H. A. \ Atwater ,\ @noop journal journal Nature Photonics \ volume 19 ,\ pages 369 ( year 2025 ) NoStop
2025
-
[12]
Bobroff ,\ @noop journal journal Measurement Science and Technology \ volume 4 ,\ pages 907 ( year 1993 ) NoStop
author author N. Bobroff ,\ @noop journal journal Measurement Science and Technology \ volume 4 ,\ pages 907 ( year 1993 ) NoStop
1993
-
[13]
Canuto \ and\ author F
author author E. Canuto \ and\ author F. Musso ,\ @noop journal journal European Journal of Control \ volume 13 ,\ pages 398 ( year 2007 ) NoStop
2007
-
[14]
S m \' d , author O
author author R. S m \' d , author O. C \' p ,\ and\ author J. Lazar ,\ in\ @noop booktitle Optical Micro-and Nanometrology in Microsystems Technology II ,\ Vol.\ volume 6995 \ ( organization SPIE ,\ year 2008 )\ pp.\ pages 188--195 NoStop
2008
-
[15]
Niwa , author K
author author Y. Niwa , author K. Arai , author A. Ueda , author M. Sakagami , author N. Gouda , author Y. Kobayashi , author Y. Yamada ,\ and\ author T. Yano ,\ @noop journal journal Applied optics \ volume 48 ,\ pages 6105 ( year 2009 ) NoStop
2009
-
[16]
Cordero , author T
author author J. Cordero , author T. Heinrich , author T. Schuldt , author M. Gohlke , author S. Lucarelli , author D. Weise , author U. Johann ,\ and\ author C. Braxmaier ,\ @noop journal journal Measurement Science and Technology \ volume 20 ,\ pages 095301 ( year 2009 ) NoStop
2009
-
[17]
Schuldt , author M
author author T. Schuldt , author M. Gohlke , author H. K \"o gel , author R. Spannagel , author A. Peters , author U. Johann , author D. Weise ,\ and\ author C. Braxmaier ,\ @noop journal journal Measurement Science and Technology \ volume 23 ,\ pages 054008 ( year 2012 ) NoStop
2012
-
[18]
Yang \ and\ author G
author author S. Yang \ and\ author G. Zhang ,\ @noop journal journal Measurement Science and Technology \ volume 29 ,\ pages 102001 ( year 2018 ) NoStop
2018
-
[19]
von Schmidsfeld , author K
author author A. von Schmidsfeld , author K. Khachatryan ,\ and\ author M. Reichling ,\ @noop journal journal Review of Scientific Instruments \ volume 96 ( year 2025 ) NoStop
2025
-
[20]
Wehner , author M
author author M. Wehner , author M. Ulm ,\ and\ author M. Wegener ,\ @noop journal journal Optics letters \ volume 22 ,\ pages 1455 ( year 1997 ) NoStop
1997
-
[21]
\ Vu , author M
author author T.-T. \ Vu , author M. Higuchi ,\ and\ author M. Aketagawa ,\ @noop journal journal Measurement Science and Technology \ volume 27 ,\ pages 105201 ( year 2016 ) NoStop
2016
-
[22]
\ Hu , author D
author author P.-c. \ Hu , author D. Chang , author J.-b. \ Tan , author R.-t. \ Yang , author H.-x. \ Yang ,\ and\ author H.-j. \ Fu ,\ @noop journal journal Frontiers of Information Technology & Electronic Engineering \ volume 20 ,\ pages 631 ( year 2019 ) NoStop
2019
-
[23]
Chen , author M
author author Z. Chen , author M. Yan , author T. W. \ H \"a nsch ,\ and\ author N. Picqu \'e ,\ @noop journal journal Nature communications \ volume 9 ,\ pages 3035 ( year 2018 ) NoStop
2018
-
[24]
Zhang , author L
author author G. Zhang , author L. Xu , author Q. Ge , author X. Wu ,\ and\ author B. Yu ,\ @noop journal journal Journal of lightwave technology \ volume 41 ,\ pages 6615 ( year 2023 ) NoStop
2023
-
[25]
Liu , author R
author author Z. Liu , author R. Lou , author L. Zhang , author L. Feng , author F. Wang , author Q. Yao , author W. Wu ,\ and\ author J. Xia ,\ @noop journal journal Optics Express \ volume 33 ,\ pages 817 ( year 2025 ) NoStop
2025
-
[26]
author author M. S. \ Lipsett \ and\ author P. H. \ Lee ,\ @noop journal journal Applied Optics \ volume 5 ,\ pages 823 ( year 1966 ) NoStop
1966
-
[27]
author author V. V. \ Krishnamachari , author E. R. \ Andresen , author S. R. \ Keiding ,\ and\ author E. O. \ Potma ,\ @noop journal journal Optics Express \ volume 14 ,\ pages 5210 ( year 2006 ) NoStop
2006
-
[28]
Aso , author M
author author Y. Aso , author M. Ando , author K. Kawabe , author S. Otsuka ,\ and\ author K. Tsubono ,\ @noop journal journal Physics Letters A \ volume 327 ,\ pages 1 ( year 2004 ) NoStop
2004
-
[29]
Zhang , author C
author author T. Zhang , author C. N. \ Borca , author X. Li ,\ and\ author S. T. \ Cundiff ,\ @noop journal journal Optics express \ volume 13 ,\ pages 7432 ( year 2005 ) NoStop
2005
-
[30]
\ Cho \ and\ author T.-G
author author S.-B. \ Cho \ and\ author T.-G. \ Noh ,\ @noop journal journal Optics express \ volume 17 ,\ pages 19027 ( year 2009 ) NoStop
2009
-
[31]
Wang , author L
author author G. Wang , author L. Gao , author G. Huang , author X. Lei , author C. Cui , author S. Wang , author M. Yang , author J. Zhu , author S. Yan ,\ and\ author X. Li ,\ @noop journal journal IEEE transactions on instrumentation and measurement \ volume 73 ,\ pages 1 ( year 2024 ) NoStop
2024
-
[32]
u gge , author C. Weichert , author H. Hu , author R. K \
author author J. Fl \"u gge , author C. Weichert , author H. Hu , author R. K \"o ning , author H. Bosse , author A. Wiegmann , author M. Schulz , author C. Elster ,\ and\ author R. Geckeler ,\ in\ @noop booktitle Fifth International Symposium on Instrumentation Science and Technology ,\ Vol.\ volume 7133 \ ( organization SPIE ,\ year 2009 )\ pp.\ pages 1...
2009
-
[33]
Gerberding , author K.-S
author author O. Gerberding , author K.-S. \ Isleif , author M. Mehmet , author K. Danzmann ,\ and\ author G. Heinzel ,\ @noop journal journal Physical Review Applied \ volume 7 ,\ pages 024027 ( year 2017 ) NoStop
2017
-
[34]
Eichholz , author D
author author J. Eichholz , author D. B. \ Tanner ,\ and\ author G. Mueller ,\ @noop journal journal Physical Review D \ volume 92 ,\ pages 022004 ( year 2015 ) NoStop
2015
-
[35]
Pitanti , author J
author author A. Pitanti , author J. M. \ Fink , author A. H. \ Safavi-Naeini , author J. T. \ Hill , author C. U. \ Lei , author A. Tredicucci ,\ and\ author O. Painter ,\ @noop journal journal Optics express \ volume 23 ,\ pages 3196 ( year 2015 ) NoStop
2015
-
[36]
Ruksasakchai , author C
author author P. Ruksasakchai , author C. Cowdell , author L. Sanchez , author M. Weyland ,\ and\ author M. Andersen ,\ @noop journal journal Review of scientific instruments \ volume 93 ( year 2022 ) NoStop
2022
-
[37]
Pollastrone , author M
author author F. Pollastrone , author M. Piccinini , author R. Pizzoferrato , author A. Palucci ,\ and\ author R. M. \ Montereali ,\ @noop journal journal Analog integrated circuits and signal processing \ volume 115 ,\ pages 67 ( year 2023 ) NoStop
2023
-
[38]
author author A. J. \ Harvie \ and\ author J. C. \ de Mello ,\ https://doi.org/10.3389/fsens.2023.1102176 journal journal Frontiers in Sensors \ volume Volume 4 - 2023 ( year 2023 ),\ 10.3389/fsens.2023.1102176 NoStop
-
[39]
a ger , author A. Fischer , author J. G \
author author F. Greiffenhagen , author J. Peterleithner , author J. Woisetschl \"a ger , author A. Fischer , author J. G \"u rtler ,\ and\ author J. Czarske ,\ @noop journal journal Combustion and Flame \ volume 201 ,\ pages 315 ( year 2019 ) NoStop
2019
-
[40]
Baldacci , author A
author author L. Baldacci , author A. Pitanti , author L. Masini , author A. Arcangeli , author F. Colangelo , author D. Navarro-Urrios ,\ and\ author A. Tredicucci ,\ @noop journal journal Scientific reports \ volume 6 ,\ pages 31489 ( year 2016 ) NoStop
2016
-
[41]
Shao , author D
author author L. Shao , author D. Zhu , author M. Colangelo , author D. Lee , author N. Sinclair , author Y. Hu , author P. T. \ Rakich , author K. Lai , author K. K. \ Berggren ,\ and\ author M. Lon c ar ,\ @noop journal journal Nature Electronics \ volume 5 ,\ pages 348 ( year 2022 ) NoStop
2022
-
[42]
author author D. J. \ Wilson , author V. Sudhir , author N. Piro , author R. Schilling , author A. Ghadimi ,\ and\ author T. J. \ Kippenberg ,\ @noop journal journal Nature \ volume 524 ,\ pages 325 ( year 2015 ) NoStop
2015
-
[43]
\ Koh , author C.-P
author author S.-K. \ Koh , author C.-P. \ Lee , author T.-K. \ Hsiao , author I.-C. \ Hoi , author Y.-H. \ Lin , author C.-Y. \ Mou , author D.-C. \ Ling , author Y.-F. \ Chen , author C.-S. \ Wu ,\ and\ author J.-C. \ Chen ,\ @noop journal journal Physical Review B \ volume 111 ,\ pages 045150 ( year 2025 ) NoStop
2025
-
[44]
Pitanti , author N
author author A. Pitanti , author N. Ashurbekov , author I. dePedro Embid , author M. Msall ,\ and\ author P. Santos ,\ @noop journal journal Nature Communications \ volume 16 ,\ pages 8116 ( year 2025 ) NoStop
2025
-
[45]
note Https://www.zhinst.com/sites/default/files/zi \_mfli \_appnote \_interferometry.pdf NoStop
-
[46]
Barg , author Y
author author A. Barg , author Y. Tsaturyan , author E. Belhage , author W. H. \ Nielsen , author C. B. \ M ller ,\ and\ author A. Schliesser ,\ @noop journal journal Applied Physics B \ volume 123 ,\ pages 8 ( year 2017 ) NoStop
2017
-
[47]
note Https://tools.analog.com/en/filterwizard NoStop
-
[48]
author author A. S. \ Sedra \ and\ author K. C. \ Smith ,\ @noop title Circuiti per la Microelettronica \ ( publisher Edises ,\ address Napoli ,\ year 2005 ) NoStop
2005
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.