Excess noise reduction in fiber gyroscope using broader spectrum linewidth Er-doped superfluorescent fiber laser

The minimum detectable rotation rate of a fiber gyroscope employing a rare-earth-doped superfluorescent laser (SFL) is theoretically proportional to the inverse square root of the spectrum linewidth Delta lambda of the employed SFL due to its excess noise. The short-term resolution of a fiber gyroscope using an Er-doped SFL with Al codoping that has a larger Delta lambda value than that without Al, is examined. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical prediction. The ER-doped SFL with Al can successfully improve the resolution as compared with that without Al.<<ETX>>