Aircraft-navigation-grade laser-driven FOG with Gaussian-noise phase modulation

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optical sensing
• Inertial navigation systems

Background:

• Fiber optic gyroscopes (FOGs) are crucial for navigation.
• Conventional FOGs often use superfluorescent fiber sources.
• Laser-driven FOGs offer potential for improved performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a laser-driven fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) meeting commercial aircraft inertial navigation requirements.
• To evaluate the performance of a laser-driven FOG using Gaussian white noise phase modulation.
• To compare the laser-driven FOG performance against a conventional superfluorescent fiber source.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing Gaussian white noise phase modulation to broaden laser linewidth and suppress optical carrier.
• Implementing a laser source in a fiber optic gyroscope configuration.
• Characterizing angular random walk noise, drift, and scale-factor stability.

Main Results:

• Achieved an angular random walk noise of 5.5×10^-4 deg/√h and drift of 6.8×10^-3 deg/h.
• Inferred scale-factor stability of 0.15 ppm.
• Demonstrated performance comparable to, or better in noise than, conventional superfluorescent fiber sources.

Conclusions:

• The demonstrated laser-driven FOG is the first to meet commercial aircraft inertial navigation performance requirements.
• Gaussian white noise phase modulation effectively enhances laser-driven FOG performance.
• Laser-driven FOGs present a viable alternative to traditional sources for high-precision navigation.