Fiber-Optic Gyroscope

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

2006

Disciplines

Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physics

Advisor

Dean Langley, Physics

Abstract

Fiber-optic gyroscopes are known for their great performance in making ultra-sensitive measurements of rotational motion. The device measures the Sagnac phase shift, where two light beams travel via fiber optic cable in opposite directions around an area and interfere at a detection point. The interference signal measured is proportional to rotation rate, and the performance breaks down to three major components: light source, fiber optic technology, and signal processing. The experiment aims at incorporating the technology needed for making slow rotational measurements, and rotation rates as slow as 1/1000 to 5/1000 revolutions per second were accurately measured.

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