Ring Resonator Optical Gyroscopes-Parameter Optimization and Robustness Analysis

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 30; no. 12; pp. 1802 - 1817
• Main Authors: Guillen-Torres, M. A., Cretu, E., Jaeger, N. A. F., Chrostowski, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 15.06.2012; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Circuit properties; Couplings; Critical coupling (CC); design optimization; design robustness; Detection, estimation, filtering, equalization, prediction; Electric, optical and optoelectronic circuits; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General equipment and techniques; Gyroscopes; Information, signal and communications theory; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Integrated optics. Optical fibers and wave guides; Laser optical systems: design and operation; Optical and optoelectronic circuits; Optical ring resonators; Optical waveguides; Optics; Physics; Propagation losses; resolution; Resonators, cavities, amplifiers, arrays, and rings; ring resonator; Sagnac effect; Sagnac interferometers; sensitivity; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Signal and communications theory; Signal, noise; silicon on insulator (SOI); Silicon on insulator technology; supermode coupling theory; Telecommunications and information theory; Speed measurement; Data transmission; Instrumentation; resolution; Optimal design; Silicon on insulator technology; All pass filter; Sagnac effect; Optical characteristic; design robustness; Robustness; Critical coupling (CC); design optimization; Motion estimation; Measurement sensor; Telecommunication; Bus(channel); Waveguide; gyroscopes; Extinction index; Constrained optimization; Ring resonator; Interconnection; Integrated circuit; Signal processing; supermode coupling theory; Gyroscope; Feasibility; Angular velocity; sensitivity; Transmission loss; silicon on insulator (SOI)
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2012.2188884

Semiconductor ring resonators as the core components of instruments and devices have found applications in the areas of telecommunications and sensors. In this study, the feasibility of using ring resonators as solid-state angular rate sensors (gyroscopes) based on the Sagnac effect is assessed, and an extensive analysis of the optimal values of resonator length, coupling, and detuning is carried out, for the drop port of a double-bus ring, and for an all-pass, single-bus ring, for different values of propagation losses, consistent with different available technologies. We show that for both the all-pass and the drop-port configurations, optimally undercoupled rings show larger extinction ratios and, thus, better resolutions than critically coupled rings of the same length, contrary to our initial intuitive assumption that critically coupled rings should offer the best resolutions. Our analysis also shows that the ring resonator gyroscopes require a technology-constrained optimization, with the propagation loss as the main factor that hinders the resolution, and that determines the optimum values of all other parameters, namely length, coupling, and resonance detuning. According to our model, standard-chip-sized racetrack gyroscopes are suitable for rate- and tactical-grade applications for selected, currently feasible low propagation loss waveguides.