ABSTRACT The Mach–Zehnder interferometer plays a pivotal role in infrared coherent detection owing to its distinctive optical path design and interference characteristics. By splitting the incident beam into a reference beam and a signal beam, which traverse separate optical paths before being recombined, the MZI generates interference fringes. This process enables precise modulation and interference of the optical signal. Due to its high sensitivity to variations in optical path length, the MZI is particularly well‐suited for detecting minute structural changes. This study proposes a Mach–Zehnder‐interferometer‐based high‐precision infrared coherent detection method with integrated multi‐angle scanning and high‐precision grid optimization. The high‐precision infrared coherent detection system accurately modulates target reflections and controls optical path differences, reconstructing high‐resolution images while multi‐angle scanning overcomes single‐view occlusion limitations. Experimental results demonstrate that adopting a scanning step size of 0.25 cm enhances the accuracy of contour representation. The application of a high‐precision 2000 × 2000 grid also leads to a notable reduction in edge distortions, including block artifacts and jagged deformations. Furthermore, the system accurately captures intensity enhancement features at the junctions between the fuselage and wings of an aircraft model, highlighting its potential for aerospace inspection applications. Image sharpening techniques further enhance detail reconstruction in low‐resolution images, significantly improving recognizability and providing an effective method for image quality enhancement. These results offer technical support for infrared imaging systems in complex environments while laying a foundation for weak signal detection and target recognition in fields such as aerospace monitoring, intelligent transportation, and remote sensing.
Zhuoran Jiang (2026) studied this question.