Photonics (Dec 2022)

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

  • Yurii V. Filatov,
  • Daniil G. Gilev,
  • Polina S. Goncharova,
  • Victor V. Krishtop,
  • Alexander S. Kukaev,
  • Konstantin A. Ovchinnikov,
  • Alexander A. Sevryugin,
  • Egor V. Shalymov,
  • Vladimir Yu. Venediktov

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics10010004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
p. 4

Abstract

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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.

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