Ultrasensitive and Compact Superluminal Ring Laser Accelerometer for Inertial Navigation

ABSTRACT: A superluminal ring laser gyroscope (SRLG) can improve the accuracy of rotation sensing by nearly five orders of magnitude. The same mechanism can be used to produce a superluminal ring laser accelerometer (SRLA), with a similar improvement in accuracy. Under Phase I, we have demonstrated the feasibility of the SRLA. Under the Phase II work proposed here, we will develop a miniaturized version of the SRLA, with a sensitivity of 10 pico-g/Hz^(1/2), a volume of 2cmX2cmX1cm, weighing about 15 grams, and using less than 2W of power. It will have a high dynamic range, capable of sensing an acceleration of 100g, a bias stability less than 0.01micro-g, and a scale factor fluctuation of less than 0.001 PPM. Under another Phase II proposal that have been selected for funding, we plan to develop an IMU, consisting of SRLGs and SRLAs, with an emphasis on performance optimization as well as electronic interfacing. In contrast, the emphasis of the work proposed here will be on miniaturization, while maintaining high performance. Since the SRLG makes use of the same core technology as the SRLA, the work carried out here will translate easily to the corresponding miniaturization of the overall 3-axis IMU, with a volume of 27 cm^3. BENEFIT: Three SRLAs, combined with three SRLGs, can be used to realize a high accuracy IMU that is very compact and light weight. Such an IMU could also be relatively inexpensive. An IMU of this type could have a significant impact on guidance, navigation and control systems for spacecraft, launch vehicles, missiles, kill vehicles, smart munitions and other applications requiring precision inertial knowledge. Non-DoD applications include spacecraft guidance, navigation and control, commercial aviation, emergency response in urban canyons, mining and tunneling operations, and maritime operations.