Polarization Frequency Splitting in Non-planar Ring Laser Resonators

Abstract

Abstract A non-planar ring cavity has been used to demonstrate polarization frequency splitting providing reciprocal bias for a multi-oscillator ring laser gyroscope. A bias of 94 MHz has been observed for a cavity with a longitudinal mode spacing (c/L) of 260 MHz. The bias agrees well with the passive cavity splitting predicted by a Jones matrix analysis of the cavity. The application of a non-reciprocal bias, in the form of the Zeeman effect on the gain medium, has demonstrated four-mode operation in a He-Ne ring laser operating at 632·8 nm.