The ring laser inertial sensor.
Ring laser inertial sensor for aerospace systems obtaining high accuracy angular resolution and mechanical simplicity
ANGULAR VELOCITY↗
SEARCH · Search NASA
Results for “RING LASER”
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Environmental testing of a Q-switched Nd:YLF laser and a Nd:YAG ring laser
A Q-switched Nd:YLF laser (model 110-02) and a Nd:YAG ring laser (model 120-04) from Lightwave Electronics were subjected to thermal and vibration tests similar to what can be expected during launch and flight on a spacecraft. Even though these lasers were not designed for space flight, environmental tests were performed to identify major design weaknesses. Laser performance (output power, energy, pulsewidth, lasing threshold etc.) were measured prior to and after thermal vibration tests. Average output power of the Q-switched laser degraded 15-20 percent after thermal tests and an additional 20-25 percent after vibration tests. Post diagnostic tests revealed that degradation of the Q-switched laser was due to misalignment of pump focusing optics and the laser cavity.
Robinson, D. L.↗
Ring laser sensor applications.
Ring laser sensor parameters and characteristics, noting application to measurement of angular rate, mass flow, navigation and guidance
LASER OUTPUT↗
Ring laser angle encoder
Ring laser angle encoder with a scanning photometer autocollimator and an isolation axis, provides continuous digital readout. It measures the angular difference in inertial attitudes of target /any phenomena generating or reflecting a light beam/ two at a time relative to target one at a time.
Coccoli, J. D.↗
On Physical Interpretation of the In-Site Measurement of Earth Rotation by Ring Laser Gyrometers
Large ring laser gyrometers under development have demonstrated the capability of detecting minute ground motions and deformations on a wide range of timescales. The next challenge and goal is to measure the Earth's rotation variations to a precision that rivals that of the present space-geodesy techniques, thus providing an in-situ (and cost effective alternatives of Earth rotation measurement for geophysical research and geodetic applications. Aside from thermal and mechanical instabilities, "undesirable" ground motion and tilt that appear in the signal will need to be removed before any variation in Earth rotation can be detected. Removal of these signals, some of them are larger than the sought rotation signals, has been a typical procedure in many precise geophysical instruments, such as gravimeters, seismometers, and tiltmeters. The remaining Earth rotation signal resides in both the spin around the axis and in the orientation of the axis. In the case of the latter, the in-situ measurement is complementary to the space-geodetic observables in terms of polar motion and nutation, a fact to be exploited.
Chao, B. F.↗
Monolithic Unidirectional Planar Ring Laser
Operation based on induced birefringence of stressed laser medium. Unidirectional operation of ring laser made possible by polarization-dependent differential loss induced by some combination of reciprocal and nonreciprocal polarization effects. Concept arises from theoretical analysis of monolithic unidirectional nonplanar ring laser described in article, "Monolithic Unidirectional Nonplanar Ring Laser" (LAR-14146). Potential for use in metrology and spectroscopy.
Nilsson, Alan C.↗
Ring-laser gyroscope system using dispersive element(s)
A ring-laser gyroscope system includes a ring-laser gyroscope (RLG) and at least one dispersive element optically coupled to the RLG's ring-shaped optical path. Each dispersive element has a resonant frequency that is approximately equal to the RLG's lasing frequency. A group index of refraction defined collectively by the dispersive element(s) has (i) a real portion that is greater than zero and less than one, and (ii) an imaginary portion that is less than zero.
Smith, David D.↗
Demonstration of frequency control and CW diode laser injection control of a titanium-doped sapphire ring laser with no internal optical elements
Theoretical and experimental frequency narrowing studies of a Ti:sapphire ring laser with no intracavity optical elements are reported. Frequency narrowing has been achieved using a birefringent filter between a partially reflecting reverse wave suppressor mirror and the ring cavity output mirror. Results of CW diode laser injection seeding are reported.
Bair, Clayton H.↗
Improved gas ring laser
Minimizing mode coupling improves sensing resolution of a gas ring laser in a gimballess gyroscope system or inertial rotation sensor. The piezoelectric-driven corner mirrors of the ring laser are oscillated in a direction parallel to their surfaces and the plane of rotation.
Coccoli, J. D.↗
Mode coupling due to backscattering in a He- Ne traveling-wave ring laser.
Coupling between oppositely directed traveling waves in He-Ne ring laser in form of mutual backscattering of energy from each beam into direction of other
GAS LASER↗
Theory of a ring laser
Development of a systematic formulation of the theory of a ring laser which is based on first principles and uses a well-known model for laser operation. A simple physical derivation of the electromagnetic field equations for a noninertial reference frame in uniform rotation is presented, and an attempt is made to clarify the nature of the Fox-Li modes for an open polygonal resonator. The polarization of the active medium is obtained by using a Fourier-series method which permits the formulation of a strong-signal theory, and solutions are given in terms of continued fractions. It is shown that when such a continued fraction is expanded to third order in the fields, the familiar small-signal ring-laser theory is obtained.
Menegozzi, L. N.↗
Monolithic nonplanar ring lasers - Resistance to optical feedback
The sensitivity of a monolithic unidirectional nonplanar ring laser to optical feedback depends on the polarization eigenmodes of the resonator, which are complicated functions of the resonator geometry. Resonator geometries that increase the loss difference between the two directions of propagation around the ring improve the resistance of the lasers to optical feedback. Here, measurements on Nd:YAG nonplanar ring lasers having two different ring geometries are discussed. Currently, 1 percent optical feedback produces a 10 percent reduction in useful output power for the more feedback-resistant oscillator, a tenfold improvement over previous designs.
Nilsson, Alan C.↗
Modulation of ring-laser mode coupling.
This paper develops an analytical, algebraic formalism that predicts effects induced in ring lasers by phase modulation, corresponding both to mode-decoupling mechanisms deliberately incorporated in the ring laser and to naturally occurring periodic or random angular or linear accelerations. The analysis is based on an approach that seems potentially convenient in the analysis of other systems that are physically stable but mathematically nonlinear.
Whitney, C.↗
Injection seeded single mode alexandrite ring laser for lidar applications
Along with many spectroscopic applications, atmospheric lidar measurements require a tunable, narrow band laser with a very high degree of spectral purity. A standing wave pulsed alexandrite laser tuned by injection seeding with an AlGaAs laser diode has demonstrated high stability. The standing wave cavity, however, poses several difficulties in light of the single mode operation and efficient seeding beam into the cavity. In order to overcome these problems and to operate the high power alexandrite laser in a single axial mode with a high spectral purity, a new ring laser system is being developed. The design features of the ring laser and some measurements of the laser characteristics are presented.
Lee, H. Sang↗
Dual-polarized ring lasers
Simultaneous laser oscillation of four nondegenerate polarization and propagation direction eigenstates of a single TEM-00 mode was observed in a ring laser cavity. The observed polarization and frequency properties of the ring laser were analyzed in terms of the Jones matrix calculus.
Sanders, V. E.↗
Nonreciprocal gain control for ring laser
Nonreciprocal gain control is used in a ring laser where the two contracirculating beams may have differing intensities because of the residual Faraday rotation and other secondary nonreciprocal effects.
Dueker, G.↗
Development and fabrication of ring laser systems
Theory, fabrication, and operation of Ne ring laser rotation sensor system
OPTICAL SENSOR↗
Measurement of saturation induced optical nonreciprocity in a ring laser plasma.
Saturation induced optical nonreciprocity in He-Ne ring laser plasma, eliminating frequency locking by using Faraday effect
GAS LASER↗