Performance comparison of slow‐light coupled‐resonator optical gyroscopes

Abstract

We investigate the connection between group velocity and rotation sensitivity in a number of resonant gyroscope designs. Two key comparisons are made. First, we compare two conventional sensors, namely a resonant fiber optic gyroscope (RFOG) and an interferometric fiber optic gyroscope (FOG). Second, we compare the RFOG to several recently proposed coupled-resonator optical waveguide (CROW) gyroscopes. We show that the relationship between loss and maximum rotation sensitivity is the same for both conventional and CROW gyroscopes. Thus, coupling multiple resonators together cannot enhance rotation sensitivity. While CROW gyroscopes offer the potential for large group indices, this increase of group index does not provide a corresponding increase in the maximum sensitivity to rotation. For a given footprint and a given total loss, the highest sensitivity is shown to be achieved either in a conventional RFOG utilizing a single resonator, or a conventional FOG.Unidirectional CROWs: Folded configuration, twisted configuration and planar configuration with alternating large and small rings.

Material slow light does not enhance Beer-Lambert absorption

“…It has also been theoretically and experimentally proved that the extreme dispersion of slow light can lead to an enhancement of the spectral sensitivity of interferometers [4,5]. The role of slow light in gyroscopes has also been theoretically investigated [6]. Recent works [7,8] have theoretically demonstrated that Beer-Lambert-Bouguer (BLB) absorption can be increased while light transmits through a special kind of microstructured photonic crystal (PC) cuvette.…”

Large Sagnac frequency splitting in a ring resonator operating at an exceptional point

“…They are widely used as key components of inertial navigation systems in many industrial and military applications, such as airplanes, ships, satellites, and so on. Considerable research effort has been devoted to realizing chip-scale compact optical gyroscopes [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] because such small and navigation-grade rotation sensors have the potential to be used in mobile platforms and may extend into numerous applications. However, the sensitivity of an optical gyroscope decreases as the size of the sensing element decreases.…”

Turning a low Q fiber resonator into a high-sensitivity displacement sensor using slow light concepts

“…It has also been theoretically and experimentally proved that the extreme dispersion of slow light can lead to an enhancement in the spectral sensitivity of interferometers given by n g [4]. The role of slow light in enhancing gyroscope performance [5] and Beer-Lambert-Bouguer (BLB) absorption [6,7] has also been theoretically and/or experimentally investigated. Generally speaking, light-matter interactions have been found to be only enhanced in structural slow light systems (e.g.…”