Experimental Investigation of an Optical Resonator Gyroscope with a Mach–Zehnder Modulator and Its Sensitive Elements

Abstract

Today, the task of developing microoptical gyroscopes is topical. Usually, tunable lasers with a built-in frequency stabilization system are used in such gyroscopes. They are comparatively bulky, which hinders the real miniaturization of optical gyroscopes. We propose a new approach implemented by using a Mach–Zehnder modulator with a passive ring resonator connected to one of its arms. This makes it possible to obtain a mutual configuration and makes the use of a tunable laser optional. Two ring resonators made of the polarization-maintaining fiber, suitable for use as sensitive elements of a gyroscope, were realized and investigated. Their Q-factor is equal to 14.5 × 106 and 28.9 × 106. The maximum sensitivity of the proposed method when using the described resonators is 3.2 and 1.8 °/h, respectively. The first experimental setup of a resonator gyroscope implementing this approach has been manufactured and analyzed. When measuring the rotation speed by the quasi-harmonic signal span and its phase, the measurement accuracy was approximately 11 and 0.4 °/s, respectively.

A Prototype for a Passive Resonant Interferometric Fiber Optic Gyroscope with a 3 × 3 Directional Coupler

“…A decrease in the overall dimensions of the RLG entails an increase in the dead zone of the gyroscope. A resonant contour of optical gyroscopes is a new step in the development of optical gyroscopy, as is evidenced by recent research and the development of resonant gyroscopes [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”