Out-Of-Plane Laser Gyro Configurations And Magnetic Biases

Nonplanar active ring laser cavities and their uses for the gyro builder are discussed and it is shown how a slightly nonplanar configuration may create magnetic sensitivities and how they may be controlled. Another origin of magnetic biases in both square and triangular ring laser gyros, namely stress-induced linear birefringence in the gyro mirrors, is examined and possible experimental arrangements for measuring the size of birefringences produced by stress in mirrors suggested.