Acoustic wave amplitude modulation of a multimore ring laser

The work reported here is the result of the application of a modulation technique to the ring laser to improve its rotation beat frequency signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and to extend the lower limit of rotation rate sensing. The present lower limit is caused by insufficient isolation between the oppositely directed light waves, causing them to lock in frequency. The modulation causes the light waves traveling in each direction to exist as pnlses. Control of the relative phasing of the pulses offers means to avoid locking which are not possible with CW operation.