Fiber-optic gyroscope with polarization-holding fiber

Abstract

A fiber gyroscope is reported that uses polarization-holding fiber in the coil, the phase modulator, and the coupler. The random-drift coefficient, calculated from rms noise levels, was 8.10(-4) deg/ radicalh, within a factor of 2 of an experimentally determined quantum and thermal limit. White-noise behavior was observed for integration time constants from 1 to 40 sec. Device characteristics and performance are presented.