Magnetic Effect on the Performance of a Four-Frequency Differential Laser Gyroscope

The performance of a four-frequency differential laser gyroscope (FFDLG) is severely affected by the magnetic field. In this paper, the following conclusions are discussed through theoretical analyses and experimental data: First of all, the Zeeman effect cannot fully explain the magnetic effect on the gain region due to the plasma movement. Secondly, an FFDLG does not have a unique optimal operating point where the gyroscope is not affected by any magnetic field. Plasma movement driven by Lorentz force induces a Fresnel drag effect, leading to a frequency imbalance and magnetic error in the ring laser gyroscope (RLG). This mechanism, involving the interaction between moving gain media and the counter-propagating beams, was missed in previous research.