Fiber-Optic Rotation Sensors. Tutorial Review

The measurement of rotation is of considerable interest in a number of areas. For example, inertial navigation systems as used in aircraft and spacecraft depend critically on accurate inertial rotation sensors. The allowable errors in rotation sensor performance depend on the particular application. Typical requirements for aircraft navigation lie between 0.01 and 0.001 degree/hour. In terms of earth rotation rate Ωe = 15 degrees/hour this becomes 10-3 to 10-4 ΩE. A number of other applications of rotation sensors exist such as surveying where the accurate determination of azimuth and geodetic latitude is important [T]. In this case performance of 10-6 ΩE or better is needed. Geophysics applications include the determination of astronomical latitude, and the monitoring of polar motion caused by wobble, rotation, precession and wandering effects [1]. A highly precise rotation sensor may be used to measure any changes in the length of the day and to detect torsional oscillations in the earth caused by earthquakes. Finally, ultraprecise sensors may find applications in relativity related experiments such as the determination of the preferred frame, dragging of inertial frames, etc. [2].

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