Rigorous treatment of fiber-environmental interactions in fiber gyroscopes

Abstract

Thermal and elastomechanical effects on fiber optic gyroscopes (FOGs) are a major source of error signals and have been dealt with mainly by Shupe and Mohr. It has become a standard to use Shupepsilas nonreciprocity formula for calculating the thermally induced bias error in fibre gyroscopes. This effect is initiated by thermal waves propagating through the material. However, the Shupe formula does not describe the effect of homogeneous, but transient heating of the fiber coil, which leads to an inhomogeneous deformation of the fibers and thus to nonreciprocity. Furthermore, the effect of inertial forces such as vibrations has been described first in the work of Mohr and Schadt (2004) and shall be extended in this contribution. Wepsilall describe a simulation model of the fiber coil using analytical and - where necessary - finite element methods. Finally, wepsilall verify our simulation model with measurement results from an FOG.