Abstract: A method of operating a resonator optical gyroscope includes generating optical signals having broadband frequency range; coupling optical signals into optical resonator (OR) to propagate in first direction and out of OR after optical signals pass through OR in first direction; applying phase modulation to optical signals coupled out of OR to generate phase-modulated optical signals; filtering first portion of phase-modulated optical signals to generate filtered, phase-modulated optical signals; generating first electrical signals indicative of power level of the filtered, phase-modulated optical signals and RIN; coupling second portion of phase-modulated optical signals into OR to propagate in second direction and out of OR after phase-modulated optical signals pass through the OR in second direction; generating second electrical signals indicative of power level of phase-modulated optical signals after passing through OR in second direction; and determining a rotation rate based on the first electrical sign

Abstract: A directional coupler with reduced phase deviation is provided. The directional coupler includes a first coupler waveguide and second coupler waveguide. At least one of a spaced distance between the first coupler waveguide and the second coupler waveguide and a length of the first coupler waveguide and the second coupler waveguide selected to achieve an acceptable phase deviation and a set coupling ratio. The phase deviation is caused by a difference in loss coefficients between a first optical mode in the first coupler waveguide and a second optical mode in the second coupler waveguide.

Abstract: An interferometric resonator optical gyroscope includes an optical frequency comb generator configured to generate an optical frequency comb. Optical signals representative of the optical frequency comb pass through an optical resonator in different directions, and a rotation rate is determined based on the extent of interference between the optical signals. Parameters of the optical frequency comb generator can be controlled by a control servo based on an intensity of the optical signals after propagating in the optical resonator. Utilizing an optical frequency comb generator reduces the bias error during gyroscope operation.

Abstract: A method of operating a resonator optical gyroscope includes generating optical signals having a broadband frequency range. The method includes coupling the optical signals into an optical resonator (OR) to propagate in a first direction and coupling the optical signals out of the OR after the optical signals pass through the OR in the first direction. The method includes coupling optical signals into the OR to propagate in a second direction and coupling optical signals out of the OR after the optical signals pass through the OR in the second direction. The method includes amplifying the optical signals coupled out of the OR by the second optical coupler or the optical signals coupled out of the OR by the first optical coupler to generate amplified optical signals and generating electrical signals corresponding to the amplified optical signals. The method includes determining a rotation rate based on the electrical signals.

Abstract: Embodiments utilize an optical frequency comb generator coupled to an optical resonator of an optical gyroscope. The optical frequency comb generator generates an optical frequency comb having frequency peaks that each correspond to a respective resonance frequency of the optical resonator. A control servo can be coupled to the optical frequency comb generator and controls the optical frequency comb output from the optical frequency comb generator. In doing so, the optical frequency comb remains tuned to the resonance frequencies of the optical resonator during gyroscope operation.

Abstract: A gyroscope comprises first and second light sources that emit first and second beams with broadband spectrums, and a waveguide arrangement that communicates with the light sources. A resonator communicates with the waveguide arrangement to receive the beams. A first circulator is coupled to the waveguide arrangement between the first light source and the resonator. A second circulator is coupled to the waveguide arrangement between the second light source and the resonator. A first rate detector communicates with the resonator through the first circulator, and a second rate detector communicates with the resonator through the second circulator. The rate detectors produce rate measurements based on a detected resonance frequency shift of the beams in the resonator caused by rotation of the gyroscope. Outputs of the rate detectors are used to calculate a rotation rate that is corrected for errors due to a time varying pathlength change in the resonator.

Abstract: Various examples of a closed-loop optical gyroscope are disclosed. The closed-loop optical gyroscope includes a broadband light source configured to generate broadband optical signal(s). The broadband optical signal(s) propagate in an optical resonator and are coupled in and out of the optical resonator by optical couplers. A phase modulator applies phase modulation to the optical signal(s) based on a sawtooth modulation signal. The optical signal(s) repropagate in the optical resonator in a different direction. The optical signal(s) are then received and analyzed to determine parameter(s) of the phase modulator. One or more processors configure the phase modulator based on the determined parameter(s).

Abstract: A gyroscope comprises a source emitting a broadband beam, and a first waveguide arrangement that splits the beam into CCW and CW beams. First and second phase modulators are coupled to the waveguide arrangement and provide phase modulations or frequency shifts to the CCW and CW beams. An optical resonator is in communication with the phase modulators such that the CCW and CW beams are optically coupled into the resonator. A second waveguide arrangement receives the CCW and CW beams transmitted from the resonator. First and second RIN detectors are coupled to the second waveguide arrangement and respectively receive the CCW and CW beams. A rate detector receives the CCW and CW beams. A rate calculation unit receives intensity noise signals from the RIN detectors, and rate and intensity noise signals from the rate detector. The rate calculation unit performs a RIN subtraction technique to reduce intensity noise limited ARW.

Abstract: A photonics device comprises a waveguide platform including a substrate layer, a cladding layer over the substrate layer, and a waveguide layer embedded in the cladding layer. The waveguide layer includes a waveguide ring resonator, and a bus waveguide in optical communication with the waveguide ring resonator. The waveguide ring resonator is configured to generate a stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) beam when a pump laser beam is optically coupled into the waveguide ring resonator from the bus waveguide. The waveguide ring resonator has a radius and corresponding round-trip path length such that a free-spectral range (FSR) of the waveguide ring resonator is misaligned with respect to a SBS gain peak of the SBS beam, such that an SBS gain coefficient has a magnitude to produce a substantially reduced linewidth of the SBS beam.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for implementing and using a travelling wave resonator. comprising planar optical waveguide including at least two stacked cores, to diminish Kerr effect in the travelling wave resonator. The travelling wave resonator may be used in a resonator optical gyroscope.

Abstract: A photonics gyroscope comprises a light source on a photonics chip that emits a broadband beam; a waveguide resonator; a reflective component; first and second detectors, the second detector coupled to the source; a RIN servo loop coupled between the second detector and the source; and a rate calculation unit. The beam is directed into the resonator such that it propagates in a CCW direction. A portion of the CCW beam is coupled out of the resonator toward the reflective component and reflected back as a reflected beam that is coupled into the resonator such that the reflected beam propagates in a CW direction. The CW beam is coupled out of the resonator to the first detector, which detects a resonance frequency shift between the CW and CCW beams. The RIN servo loop stabilizes an intensity of the beam such that bias error and noise is reduced.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for implementing and using a travelling wave resonator, comprising planar optical waveguide including at least two stacked cores, to diminish Kerr effect in the travelling wave resonator. The travelling wave resonator may be used in a resonator optical gyroscope.

Abstract: A photonics gyroscope comprises a laser and a common intensity modulation unit that outputs an intensity modulated beam, split into a CCW beam having a first power level and a CW beam having a second power level. A first phase modulator (PA) receives the CCW beam, and a second PA receives the CW beam. A variable optical attenuator (VOA) is coupled to the first or second PA. The CCW beam is coupled into a resonator and the CW beam is coupled into the resonator. A first detector receives the CCW beam and a second detector receives the CW beam from the resonator. A CCW control loop locks the CCW beam, and a CW control loop locks the CW beam, to resonance peaks. The VOA receives a feedback loop signal to aid in balancing power levels between CCW and CW beams to eliminate a rate signal at an intensity modulation frequency.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for implementing and using a high quality factor travelling wave resonator configured to propagate a transverse magnetic mode optical signals and suppress transverse electric mode optical signals. The travelling wave resonator may be used in a resonator optical gyroscope.

Abstract: Embodiments relating to an integrated photonics air data system are disclosed. A light beam from a laser source is routed to a plurality of tunable optical filters operative to transmit the light beam to one of a plurality of emitting grating couplers at any given time. The tunable optical filters are configured such that the light beam is emitted into the region of interest at different times from each of the emitting grating couplers. A passive optical filter array is configured to receive scattered light from the emitted light beam. The passive optical filter array comprises a plurality of optical notch filters operative for frequency selection, and a plurality of optical detectors each respectively coupled to an output of one of the optical notch filters. The passive optical filter array is operative to perform frequency spectrum decomposition of the received scattered light into a plurality of signals.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for implementing and using a travelling wave resonator, comprising planar optical waveguide including at least two stacked cores, to diminish Kerr effect in the travelling wave resonator. The travelling wave resonator may be used in a resonator optical gyroscope.

Abstract: Embodiments relating to an integrated photonics air data system are disclosed. A light beam from a laser source is routed to a plurality of tunable optical filters operative to transmit the light beam to one of a plurality of emitting grating couplers at any given time. The tunable optical filters are configured such that the light beam is emitted into the region of interest at different times from each of the emitting grating couplers. A passive optical filter array is configured to receive scattered light from the emitted light beam. The passive optical filter array comprises a plurality of optical notch filters operative for frequency selection, and a plurality of optical detectors each respectively coupled to an output of one of the optical notch filters. The passive optical filter array is operative to perform frequency spectrum decomposition of the received scattered light into a plurality of signals.

Abstract: Techniques relating to an improved optical waveguide are described. The optical waveguide includes an upper and lower waveguide that each comprise a first and second layer, in which photons are transferred from the lower waveguide to the upper waveguide. A structured subwavelength coupling region is included, for example, in the first upper waveguide layer. The fill factor of the subwavelength grating coupling region is increased in the direction of light propagation to increase the index of refraction of the structured subwavelength coupling region and therefore improve photon transfer from the lower waveguide. Additionally, the width of the optical waveguide (at least along the structured subwavelength coupling region) remains constant as the fill factor increases.

Abstract: An optical phase modulator comprises a cascaded array of optical resonators, wherein each of the optical resonators has an input port and an output port. A plurality of waveguides are coupled between the optical resonators and are configured to provide cascaded optical communication between the optical resonators. Each of the waveguides is respectively coupled between the output port of one optical resonator and the input port of an adjacent optical resonator. A transmission electrode is positioned adjacent to the optical resonators, with the transmission electrode configured to apply a drive voltage across the optical resonators. The optical phase modulator is operative to co-propagate an input optical wave with the drive voltage, such that a resonator-to-resonator optical delay is matched with a resonator-to-resonator electrical delay.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for determining an acceleration. For example, an accelerometer system includes a resonator and a light-emitting device configured to generate, based on an error signal, an optical signal. Additionally, the accelerometer includes a modulator configured to receive the optical signal, generate a modulated optical signal responsive to receiving the optical signal, and output the modulated optical signal to the resonator. A photoreceiver receives a passed optical signal from the resonator, where the passed optical signal indicates a resonance frequency of the resonator. Additionally, the photoreceiver receives a reflected optical signal from the resonator. The photoreceiver generates one or more electrical signals based on the passed optical signal and the reflected optical signal. Processing circuitry generates the error signal and determines the acceleration based on the one or more electrical signals.