Resonant Optical Gyroscope Based on All-Optical Frequency Locking

Abstract

A novel resonant optical gyroscope (ROG) is proposed based on all-optical frequency locking method, which requires a small-size, low-power and low-cost distributed feedback (DFB) semiconductor laser to simplify the locking mechanism. The frequency splitting caused by Saganc effect can be measured with higher precision than the traditional intensity measurement method for ROG as the optical noise would cause less error for frequency. Besides, a high precision frequency measurement method with time-to-digital converter (TDC) chip is also designed for miniaturization and high precision of ROG. After the theoretical and experimental demonstration, all-optical frequency locking method used in ROG has the feasibility and potential to be realized as a high precision and integration angular velocity sensor. This work is meaningful for the development of high-precision, low-power and low-cost micro-optic gyroscope.