Polarimetry fiber optic gyroscope

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optical sensing technologies.
• Advanced navigation and guidance systems.

Background:

• Traditional interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes (I-FOGs) rely on phase modulation for rotation sensing.
• Counter-propagating waves in a Sagnac loop are typically co-polarized to enable interference.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel rotation sensing mechanism based on polarization analysis of light exiting a Sagnac loop.
• To demonstrate a proof-of-concept polarimetry fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) with performance competitive with high-end devices.

Main Methods:

• Analyzing the polarization state (Stokes parameters s2 and s3) of recombined, orthogonally polarized counter-propagating waves.
• Establishing a linear relationship between rotation rate and the phase difference of the waves, detectable via polarization.
• Constructing a polarimetry FOG to experimentally validate the sensing principle.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated that Stokes parameters s2 and s3 directly correlate with the phase difference, which is proportional to rotation rate.
• Achieved bias instability of 0.09°/h and angular random walk of 0.0015°/h.
• Exhibited an unlimited dynamic range, surpassing limitations of some conventional FOGs.

Conclusions:

• The polarimetry FOG offers a viable alternative to I-FOGs by eliminating the need for phase modulation.
• The approach facilitates photonics integration, paving the way for cost-effective gyroscopes.
• The technology shows significant potential for rotation sensing in price-sensitive applications like autonomous vehicles and robotics.