Mode-locked fiber laser gyroscope based on a distributed-feedback semiconductor laser amplifier

Abstract

A mode-locked fiber laser gyroscope is reported that uses a distributed-feedback semiconductor laser amplifier as the gain medium. Stable mode-locked optical pulses were obtained without gain competition, and the pulse interval could be measured with much-improved accuracy as a function of rotation rate. The rms noise equivalent rotation rate was measured to be 0.4 deg/root h. (C) 1996 Optical Society of America