We show that a certain fundamental limit applies to the accuracy of all optical rotation sensors which use laser light as a probe. We derive this fundamental rotation-rate uncertainty from the Heisenberg uncertainty relations and Glauber's minimum uncertainty states. The same relationship is obtained from a spontaneous-emission noise formulation. We present experimental data on a (nondithered) four-frequency ring laser gyroscope for which this limit is attained.

Laser gyro at quantum limit

A novel material platform based on metallic thin films with ultra-low losses in the visible and near-IR range is crucial for rapid development of a wide range of new generation plasmonic devices. For many years silver has been known as potentially the best plasmonic material with the naturally lowest ohmic losses at optical frequencies. However, the widespread implementation of the silver-based material platform for plasmonics and metamaterials is limited due to technological challenges in thin film synthesis and nanoscale features fabrication techniques. This review describes the main types of silver-based plasmonic devices from the thin films point of view required for their widespread practical application. Based on comparative analysis of more than 60-year-long history of previously reported data for the silver thin films, the authors formulate the qualitative and quantitative criteria of "ideal" silver film (which the authors name the silver "dream" plasmonic film) for plasmonic devices with ultra-low loss. This paper outlines on several well-known metrology issues in plasmonic metallic films characterization and summarize the set of methods for their properties careful and precise extraction. Finally, the detailed analysis of silver synthesis techniques and quantitative comparison of the achieved silver properties is carried out.

Silver-based plasmonics: golden material platform and application challenges [Invited]

In this paper, the development and evaluation of passive optical ring resonator gyroscopes (OPRGs) are critical reviewed. Attention has been paid to the countermeasures against the parasitic noise sources which are encountered in the OPRG including backscattering, backreflection, polarization error, nonlinear Kerr effect, and laser frequency noise. The new progress in a feasible OPRG is shown. In addition, the advanced and complex digital signal processing in the OPRGs is also addressed.

Development and Evaluation of Optical Passive Resonant Gyroscopes

We demonstrate polarization-selective coupling from an optical fiber to long-range surface plasmon polariton waveguide modes using plasmonic antenna arrays. The arrays allow the sorting of two distinct (not necessarily orthogonal) polarizations to counter-propagating waveguide modes. The polarization-selective behavior of the devices is described by a compact formalism based on Stokes vectors that offers a clear graphical representation of the response. We experimentally observe polarization-controlled switching and unidirectional coupling with extinction ratios greater than 30 dB and coupling efficiencies comparable to those of a conventional grating coupler.

Polarization-selective coupling to long-range surface plasmon polariton waveguides.

Polymers are a highly versatile class of materials for micro and nanofabrication. They have been studied for applications in photonics as they can be readily processed, integrated, and doped with a...

All-Polymer Integrated Optical Resonators by Roll-to-Roll Nanoimprint Lithography

Optical gyroscopes with high sensitivity are important rotation sensors for inertial navigation systems. Here, we present the concept of integrated resonant optical gyroscope constructed by active long-range surface plasmon-polariton (LRSPP) waveguide resonator. In this gyroscope, LRSPP waveguide doped gain medium is pumped to compensate the propagation loss, which has lower pump noise than that of conventional optical waveguide. Peculiar properties of single-polarization of LRSPP waveguide have been found to significantly reduce the polarization error. The metal layer of LRSPP waveguide is electro-optical multiplexed for suppression of reciprocal noises. It shows a limited sensitivity of ~10−4 deg/h, and a maximum zero drift which is 4 orders of magnitude lower than that constructed by conventional single-mode waveguide.

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Integrated optical gyroscope using active Long-range surface plasmon-polariton waveguide resonator

An optical waveguide accelerometer based on tunable asymmetrical Fano resonance in a ring-resonator-coupled Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is proposed and analyzed. A Fano resonance accelerometer has a relatively large workspace of coupling coefficients with high sensitivity, which has potential application in inertial navigation, missile guidance, and attitude control of satellites. Due to the interference between a high-Q resonance pathway and a coherent background pathway, a steep asymmetric line shape is generated, which greatly improves the sensitivity of this accelerometer. The sensitivity of the accelerometer is about 111.75 mW/g. A 393-fold increase in sensitivity is achieved compared with a conventional MZI accelerometer and is approximately equal to the single ring structure.

High sensitivity optical waveguide accelerometer based on Fano resonance

In this paper, we demonstrate a centimeter-scale polymer resonator with propagation loss of 0.5 dB/cm to accomplish a significant step towards all-polymer resonant integrated optical gyroscope (RIOG) chip. The optical characteristics, resonance properties and the temperature dependence of the device are experimentally studied to establish basics for gyroscope application. The resonator shows a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of about 15 pm, a resonance depth of about 10 dB, and a quality factor of 1 × 105 in TE polarization, and can be used as the crucial sensing element of rate-grade RIOG.

Demonstrations of centimeter-scale polymer resonator for resonant integrated optical gyroscope

Abstract. Displacement sensor is one of the most important measuring instruments in many automated systems. We demonstrated an integrated optical displacement sensor based on an asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometer chip on a flexible substrate. The sensing chip was made of polymer materials and fabricated by lithography and lift-off techniques. Measured results show that the device has a loss of less than 5 dB and a potential sensitivity of about 0.105  rad/μm with quite a large space for promotion. The sensor has advantages of antielectromagnetic interference, high reliability and stability, simple preparing process, and low cost; it will occupy an important place in displacement sensors.

Integrated optical displacement sensor based on asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer chip

Waveguide ring resonator is the sensing element of resonant integrated optical gyroscope (RIOG) This paper reports a polymer-based ring resonator with a low propagation loss of about 0476 dB/cm for RIOG The geometrical parameters of the waveguide and the coupler of the resonator were optimally designed We also discussed the optical properties and gyroscope performance of the polymer resonator which shows a high quality factor of about 105 The polymer-based RIOG exhibits a limited sensitivity of less than 20 deg/h for the low and medium resolution navigation systems

/pdf/low-loss-polymer-based-ring-resonator-for-resonant-1aptiv680g.pdf

Guang Qian

Papers

Integrated optical gyroscope using active Long-range surface plasmon-polariton waveguide resonator

High sensitivity optical waveguide accelerometer based on Fano resonance

Demonstrations of centimeter-scale polymer resonator for resonant integrated optical gyroscope

Integrated optical displacement sensor based on asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer chip

Low-Loss polymer-based ring resonator for resonant integrated optical gyroscopes