A ring laser gyroscope includes an optical block for generating laser beams that counter-propagate in a closed-loop type optical path, a dither mechanism for applying dither vibration for mitigating a lock-in phenomenon to the optical block, and a dither controller for controlling the dither vibration. The dither controller imparts randomness to the frequency of the angular velocity of the dither vibration.

A SBS laser system comprises at least one pump laser that emits a pump beam, and an intensity modulator in communication with the pump laser. The intensity modulator modulates an intensity of the pump beam and transmits an intensity modulated beam. A resonator, in communication with the intensity modulator, is configured to receive the intensity modulated beam such that it travels in a first direction. When optical frequency of the intensity modulated beam matches resonance frequency of the resonator, a power density increases such that beyond a certain threshold power, the intensity modulated beam produces lasing of a first order Brillouin wave including a SBS wave having a SBS gain peak. The SBS wave travels in an opposite second direction in the resonator. A control unit eliminates or reduces the intensity modulation of the beam by minimizing the frequency gap between the SBS gain peak and an SBS resonance peak.

A SBS laser system comprises at least one pump laser that emits a pump beam, and an intensity modulator in communication with the pump laser. The intensity modulator modulates an intensity of the pump beam and transmits an intensity modulated beam. A resonator, in communication with the intensity modulator, is configured to receive the intensity modulated beam such that it travels in a first direction. When optical frequency of the intensity modulated beam matches resonance frequency of the resonator, a power density increases such that beyond a certain threshold power, the intensity modulated beam produces lasing of a first order Brillouin wave including a SBS wave having a SBS gain peak. The SBS wave travels in an opposite second direction in the resonator. A control unit eliminates or reduces the intensity modulation of the beam by minimizing the frequency gap between the SBS gain peak and an SBS resonance peak.

Ring laser gyroscopes, in which rotation is detected by the Sagnac effect between counterpropagating lasers, are in common use in navigation applications. The invention disclosed here uses lasers operating at different frequencies; the resulting device is referred to as a Nondegenerate Ring Laser Gyroscope (NRLG). The invention disclosed here also incorporates an acceleration-sensing element that modifies the path length of the ring lasers in the gyroscope, the effects of which on the output of the gyroscope can be separated from those of rotation. The resulting composite device is a Nondegnerate Ring Laser Gyroscope/Accelerometer (NRLGA).

Ring laser gyroscopes, in which rotation is detected by the Sagnac effect between counterpropagating lasers, are in common use in navigation applications. The invention disclosed here uses lasers operating at different frequencies; the resulting device is referred to as a Nondegenerate Ring Laser Gyroscope (NRLG). The invention disclosed here also incorporates an acceleration-sensing element that modifies the path length of the ring lasers in the gyroscope, the effects of which on the output of the gyroscope can be separated from those of rotation. The resulting composite device is a Nondegnerate Ring Laser Gyroscope/Accelerometer (NRLGA).

Ring laser gyroscopes, in which rotation is detected by the Sagnac effect between counterpropagating lasers, are in common use in navigation applications. The invention disclosed here uses an induced strong anomalous dispersion inside the ring laser cavities to create a group velocity of as much as 10.sup.6 times greater than the vacuum speed of light, with a corresponding increase in gyroscope sensitivity; the resulting device is referred to as a Superluminal Ring Laser Gyroscope (SRLG). The invention disclosed here also incorporates an acceleration-sensing element that modifies the path length of the ring lasers in the gyroscope, the effects of which on the output of the gyroscope can be separated from those of rotation. The resulting composite device is a Superluminal Ring Laser Gyroscope/Accelerometer (SRLGA).

Ring laser gyroscopes, in which rotation is detected by the Sagnac effect between counterpropagating lasers, are in common use in navigation applications. The invention disclosed here uses an induced strong anomalous dispersion inside the ring laser cavities to create a group velocity of as much as 10.sup.6 times greater than the vacuum speed of light, with a corresponding increase in gyroscope sensitivity; the resulting device is referred to as a Superluminal Ring Laser Gyroscope (SRLG). The invention disclosed here also incorporates an acceleration-sensing element that modifies the path length of the ring lasers in the gyroscope, the effects of which on the output of the gyroscope can be separated from those of rotation. The resulting composite device is a Superluminal Ring Laser Gyroscope/Accelerometer (SRLGA).

In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method comprises transmitting a first laser pump signal to an optical resonator; adjusting a frequency of the first laser pump signal; generating a first order Stokes signal from the first laser pump signal in an optical resonator; measuring a first beat signal frequency; ceasing transmission of the first laser pump signal to the optical resonator; transmitting a second laser pump signal to the optical resonator; adjusting a frequency of the second laser pump signal; generating a first order Stokes signal from the second laser pump signal in the optical resonator; and measuring a second beat signal frequency; ceasing transmission of the second laser pump signal to the optical resonator.

In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method comprises transmitting a first laser pump signal to an optical resonator; adjusting a frequency of the first laser pump signal; generating a first order Stokes signal from the first laser pump signal in an optical resonator; measuring a first beat signal frequency; ceasing transmission of the first laser pump signal to the optical resonator; transmitting a second laser pump signal to the optical resonator; adjusting a frequency of the second laser pump signal; generating a first order Stokes signal from the second laser pump signal in the optical resonator; and measuring a second beat signal frequency; ceasing transmission of the second laser pump signal to the optical resonator.

In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method comprises transmitting a first laser pump signal to an optical resonator; adjusting a frequency of the first laser pump signal; generating a first order Stokes signal from the first laser pump signal in an optical resonator; measuring a first beat signal frequency; ceasing transmission of the first laser pump signal to the optical resonator; transmitting a second laser pump signal to the optical resonator; adjusting a frequency of the second laser pump signal; generating a first order Stokes signal from the second laser pump signal in the optical resonator; and measuring a second beat signal frequency; ceasing transmission of the second laser pump signal to the optical resonator.