A model is developed which explains the lock-in growth phenomenon in ring laser gyros (RLGs), based on the concept of a 'burn-in' reflection grating proposed by Chao et al. (1984). It is suggested that a 'burn-in grating' is produced by the photoinduced refractive index modulation of the dielectric mirror stack. Experimental results supporting the burn-in grating model are presented, including lock-in growth and recovery measurements, second-order optical nonlinear activity measurements confirming electrooptic activity, and high- and low-intensity laser-induced damage measurements.

Date Published: 1 July 1992
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 1694, Sensors and Sensor Systems for Guidance and Navigation II, (1 July 1992); doi: 10.1117/12.138140

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1694:
Sensors and Sensor Systems for Guidance and Navigation II
Sharon S. Welch, Editor(s)