Opto-Mechanical Modeling of Low Cost, High Precision, Micro Components for Fiber Optic Gyroscopes

Previous investigations into the geometrical and polarization properties of spiraled bend insensitive optical fiber layers indicate that coils made of many such layers can potentially facilitate inexpensive, high accuracy fiber optic gyroscopes (FOG). The proposed research will assess the theoretical and empirical behavior of both spiraled layers and coils through both modeling and experimentation. A current model, based on the fiber’s material parameters and the winding geometry, will be expanded to include the so-called Modal Theory to more accurately predict a coil’s polarization behavior. The expanded model will also include other FOG components such as the Lyot depolarizers and the IOC. Spiral layers and coils will be fabricated and a polarimeter designed to accurately measure the polarization state of coil’s emergent light will be fabricated and used to assess their behavior. The measurements will be correlated to the theoretical predictions to assess the model’s validity. Coil specifications indicated by the model to be optimal will be used to fabricate spiral coils. Ultimately, optimized coils will be incorporated into a complete FOG sensor. This sensor’s performance will be compared to traditional navigational and tactical grade sensors to assess the potential of this approach to create low cost, high accuracy gyroscopes.