Chip-Scale Superluminal IMU Using Rubidium Atoms and Integrated Photonics

We will develop chip-scale components at 780/795 nm, for a superluminal ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer (SRLGA) using Rubidium.The components include high-power and narrow-band lasers, modulators, detectors, low-loss waveguides, and micro-resonator based magneto-optic isolators, integrated on a single chip. The components will be built on GaAs substrate.GaAsP Quantum Wells (QWs) will enable the realization of the active photonic components. In sections for the passive components, the QWs would be disordered to minimize optical losses. A resonator containing two miniature vapor cells will be used as the cavity for the two superluminal ring lasers, the beat-note between which will yield the rotation rate.One of the mirrors for the cavity will be mounted on a metallic diaphragm for accelerometry.The chip-mounted components will be interconnected with the cavity, as well as additional electronics on a printed circuit board, for off-set phase locking of lasers, locking to atomic transitions, and processing of rotation and acceleration data. Under Phase I, we will develop a detailed design of the chip-scale SRLGA and demonstrate functionality of key components.Under Phase II, we will demonstrate first operation of an SRGLA for one axis, and then use copies thereof to demonstrate a three-axes superluminal IMU.