Abstract: A micro femtosecond laser with reduced radiation and temperature sensitivity is provided. The laser includes a housing with a radiation shield. Optical components that include a micro gain element are received within the housing. An input end of a pump light delivering fiber is positioned outside the housing. An output end of the pump light delivering fiber is positioned within the housing to deliver input beams to the optical components. A light signal generating pump is used to generate the input beams that are communicated to the input end of the pump light delivering fiber. A first end of a hollow core fiber is positioned within the housing to be in optical communication with the optical components. A second end of the hollow core fiber is positioned outside the housing. A partially reflective output coupling mirror is in optical communication with the second end of the hollow core fiber.

Abstract: In an example, a mode-locked laser includes a resonator cavity having a saturable absorber, a hollow core fiber coupled to the saturable absorber, and an optical amplifier optically coupled between the hollow core fiber and an output coupler. The mode-locked laser further includes a first pump laser and a wavelength division multiplexer coupled to the first pump laser. The wavelength division multiplexer is configured to couple light from the first pump laser into the resonator cavity to pump the optical amplifier. The mode-locked laser is configured to generate a pulse waveform at a repetition rate of approximately 100 MHz to 200 MHz.

Abstract: An optical system comprises a pair of Risley prisms positioned along an optical axis to receive a light beam from a field of view, wherein at least one of the Risley prisms is rotatable, transverse to the optical axis, with respect to the other of the Risley prisms. At least one lens is positioned along the optical axis to receive the light beam from the pair of Risley prisms, with the at least one lens configured to focus the light beam. An optical detector array is positioned along the optical axis at an image plane, wherein the optical detector array receives the focused light beam on the image plane from the at least one lens. The optical system can be implemented as a light beam steering mechanism in a star tracker or celestial aided inertial navigation unit.

Abstract: An optical system comprises a pair of Risley prisms positioned along an optical axis to receive a light beam from a field of view, wherein at least one of the Risley prisms is rotatable, transverse to the optical axis, with respect to the other of the Risley prisms. At least one lens is positioned along the optical axis to receive the light beam from the pair of Risley prisms, with the at least one lens configured to focus the light beam. An optical detector array is positioned along the optical axis at an image plane, wherein the optical detector array receives the focused light beam on the image plane from the at least one lens. The optical system can be implemented as a light beam steering mechanism in a star tracker or celestial aided inertial navigation unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for environmentally insensitive high-performance fiber-optic gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, a loop closure electronics apparatus for a fiber optic gyroscope having an optical phase modulator characterized by a transfer function that includes an error component of at least second order is provided. The apparatus comprises: a first digital circuit that generates a digital bias modulation signal; a second digital circuit that generates a digital feedback signal; at least one digital-to-analog converter that produces an electrical signal that drives the phase modulator from the digital bias modulation signal and the digital feedback signal; and a compensator that includes an analog filter of at least second order and a digital filter of at least second order, wherein the analog filter and the digital filter pre-filter the electrical signal to compensate for the error component.

Abstract: Systems and methods for environmentally insensitive high-performance fiber-optic gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, a loop closure electronics apparatus for a fiber optic gyroscope having an optical phase modulator characterized by a transfer function that includes an error component of at least second order is provided. The apparatus comprises: a first digital circuit that generates a digital bias modulation signal; a second digital circuit that generates a digital feedback signal; at least one digital-to-analog converter that produces an electrical signal that drives the phase modulator from the digital bias modulation signal and the digital feedback signal; and a compensator that includes an analog filter of at least second order and a digital filter of at least second order, wherein the analog filter and the digital filter pre-filter the electrical signal to compensate for the error component.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing Bias-Instability reduction in Fiber Optic Gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, an optical circuit for a fiber optic gyroscope having a broadband light source and an optical fiber loop comprises: a PM fiber of length v; an IOC coupled to the PM fiber via a pigtail of length d1, a second pigtail with length of d2, and a third pigtail with length of d3; a splitter that splits light received from the first pigtail into a first and second beams directed to the second and third pigtails; and a depolarizer circuit coupled to said fiber loop including a first fiber section of length x, a second fiber section of length z, a third fiber section of length w and a fourth fiber section of length y; and wherein the lengths of v, x, y, d1 and d3 are proportioned to avoid regions of high bias instability.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing Bias-Instability reduction in Fiber Optic Gyroscopes are provided. In one embodiment, an optical circuit for a fiber optic gyroscope having a broadband light source and an optical fiber loop comprises: a PM fiber of length v; an IOC coupled to the PM fiber via a pigtail of length d1, a second pigtail with length of d2, and a third pigtail with length of d3; a splitter that splits light received from the first pigtail into a first and second beams directed to the second and third pigtails; and a depolarizer circuit coupled to said fiber loop including a first fiber section of length x, a second fiber section of length z, a third fiber section of length w and a fourth fiber section of length y; and wherein the lengths of v, x, y, d1 and d3 are proportioned to avoid regions of high bias instability.

Abstract: A computer-implementable method of reducing bias instability in a fiber optic gyroscope includes receiving, with a computer, a first data set enabling the computer to generate a model of the gyroscope, including a light source, a photodetector, and a plurality of optical components and fiber sections coupling the light source to the photodetector, and a light signal to be propagated from the light source to the photodetector. The light signal has an associated wavelength spectrum. For each wavelength of the spectrum, the relative lightwave intensity reaching the photodetector is calculated. A signal-wave intensity and a spurious-wave intensity are determined from the calculated relative lightwave intensities. A scale factor is determined from the signal-wave intensity. The spurious-wave intensity is integrated over the wavelength spectrum of the light source to obtain a total spurious-wave intensity. A rate bias error is determined based on the total spurious-wave intensity and the scale factor.

Abstract: A computer-implementable method of reducing bias instability in a fiber optic gyroscope includes receiving, with a computer, a first data set enabling the computer to generate a model of the gyroscope, including a light source, a photodetector, and a plurality of optical components and fiber sections coupling the light source to the photodetector, and a light signal to be propagated from the light source to the photodetector. The light signal has an associated wavelength spectrum. For each wavelength of the spectrum, the relative lightwave intensity reaching the photodetector is calculated. A signal-wave intensity and a spurious-wave intensity are determined from the calculated relative lightwave intensities. A scale factor is determined from the signal-wave intensity. The spurious-wave intensity is integrated over the wavelength spectrum of the light source to obtain a total spurious-wave intensity. A rate bias error is determined based on the total spurious-wave intensity and the scale factor.