Abstract

We show theoretically that polarized thermal light as generated by a superluminescent diode has the properties required to compensate for Kerr-effect drift in fiber gyroscopes. Light from some multimode lasers has related properties that can substantially reduce Kerr-effect errors. An experimental gyroscope using a multimode laser diode demonstrates no Kerr-effect error and provides significantly improved long-term stability.

© 1982 Optical Society of America

Compensation of the optical Kerr effect in fiber-optic gyroscopes

R. A. Bergh, H. C. Lefevre, and H. J. Shaw
Opt. Lett. 7(6) 282-284 (1982)

Optical Kerr effect in fiber gyroscopes: effects of nonmonochromatic sources

N. J. Frigo, H. F. Taylor, L. Goldberg, J. F. Weller, and S. C. Rashleigh
Opt. Lett. 8(2) 119-121 (1983)

Intensity-dependent nonreciprocal phase shift in fiber-optic gyroscopes for light sources with low coherence

K. Petermann
Opt. Lett. 7(12) 623-625 (1982)

Sensitivity of a fiber-optic gyroscope to environmental magnetic fields

K. Böhm, K. Petermann, and E. Weidel
Opt. Lett. 7(4) 180-182 (1982)

Birefringence and polarization effects in fiber gyroscopes

G. A. Pavlath and H. J. Shaw
Appl. Opt. 21(10) 1752-1757 (1982)