Hybrid fiber resonator employing LRSPP waveguide coupler for gyroscope

Polarization error and temperature noise are two main limits to the performance of resonant fiber optic gyroscope (RFOG). To overcome these limits, we demonstrated a hybrid resonator consisting of a polymer-based long-range surface plasmon polariton (LRSPP) waveguide coupler and a silica fiber. Single-polarization property of LRSPP waveguide and the offsetting of the opposite thermo-optical characteristics between the polymer-based LRSPP waveguide and the silica fiber can effectively inhibit both the polarization error and the temperature noise of RFOG. The measured resonance spectrum of the hybrid resonator shows the absence of polarization noise. The temperature dependence of wavelength shift (TDWS) of resonator dropped to about 2 pm/°C, or even to 0 pm/°C with optimal structure, which dramatically improves the temperature stability of gyroscope system. In addition, the hybrid resonator also shows tremendous application potential in rate-grade and tactical-grade gyroscopes.