Rhombic optical path difference bias white light interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope.

Abstract

We present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, white light interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope (IFOG) scheme using a fiber-optic rhombic optical path difference (OPD) bias structure to interrogate with a sensing coil to realize rotation rate measurement without a phase modulator. The OPD bias structure composed of four (2×1) 3 dB single-mode fiber couplers was constructed to implement non-reciprocal OPD bias. White light interferometric demodulation was utilized to acquire the change in OPD due to the Sagnac-phase shift. Absolute linear output can be obtained. We produced the principle prototype of rhombic OPD bias white light IFOG without utilizing a phase modulator. An experimental demonstration of the IFOG prototype system achieves linear output with respect to the OPD difference in detecting rotation rate.