Method and arrangement for carrying out time-domain measurements

EP2679984A1 The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for carrying out time-domain measurements, the method comprising the steps of: - providing an optical pulse source (2) and a transmitter (3) which generates electro-magnetic pulses upon receipt of pulses of the optical pulse source (2); - providing a coherent detector (4) for detecting the electro-magnetic pulses and/or an electro-magnetic signal evoked by the electro-magnetic pulses; - providing a delay line (5) periodically changing the optical path length between the optical pulse source (2) and the coherent detector (4) and/or between the optical pulse source (2) and the electro-magnetic transmitter (3) by periodically moving an optical element (51, 510) of the delay line (5); - determining the position of the optical element (5) using a position sensor (6); - smoothing the data generated by the position sensor (6); - detecting the electro-magnetic signal evoked by the electro-magnetic pulses using the coherent detector (4), wherein pulses of the optical pulse source (2) are used to trigger the coherent detector (2); and - determining the time-dependency of the electro-magnetic pulses and/or of the electro-magnetic signal evoked by the electro-magnetic pulses using signals generated by the coherent detector (4) upon receipt of the electro-magnetic pulses and/or of the electro-magnetic signal and the smoothed position sensor data.