Large-area fiber-optic gyroscope on a multiplexed fiber network

Opt Lett. 2013 Apr 1;38(7):1092-4. doi: 10.1364/OL.38.001092.

Abstract

We describe a fiber-optic gyroscope based on the Sagnac effect, realized on a multiplexed telecom fiber network. Our loop encloses an area of 20 km² and coexists with Internet data traffic. This Sagnac interferometer is capable of detecting signals that are larger than 10(-8) (rad/s)/√Hz, thus approaching ring laser gyroscopes without using a narrow-linewidth laser or sophisticated optics. The proposed gyroscope could be useful for seismic applications, opening new possibilities for this kind of optical fiber sensor.