Fiber-optic rotation sensors

Abstract

Possible approaches to the design of fiber optic inertial frame rotation sensors based on the Sagnac effect are reviewed under two general categories: (1) single frequency interferometers which generate a phase shift proportional to inertial rotation rate, and (2) dual frequency interferometers for which the beat frequency is proportional to rotation rate. The principal variations within the single frequency class involve the way in which the nonreciprocal phase bias is used and techniques for generating the nonreciprocal bias. Within the dual frequency class, the various approaches differ principally in the way in which the counter-circulating frequencies are established.