The quantum limit in optical gyroscopes

Priyanka M. Kannath, Ashok Kumar

Andrey B. Matsko, Sergey P. Vyatchanin

We find that the measurement sensitivity of an optical integrating gyroscope is fundamentally limited due to ponderomotive action of the light leading to the standard quantum limit of the rotation angle detection. The uncorrelated quantum fluctuations of power of clockwise and counterclockwise electromagnetic waves result in optical power-dependent uncertainty of the angular gyroscope position. We also show that, on the other hand, a quantum backaction evading measurement of the angular momentum of a gyroscope becomes feasible if the proper measurement strategy is selected. The angle is perturbed in this case. This observation hints at the fundamental inequivalence of integrating and rate gyroscopes.

N.M. Pomerantsev, G. V. Skrotskiǐ

Andrey B. Matsko, Sergey P. Vyatchanin, Anatoliy A. Savchenkov +1 more

We theoretically study both the technical and the fundamental quantum limitations of the sensitivity of a resonant optical gyroscope based on a high finesse optical cavity. We show that the quantum back action associated with the resonantly enhanced optical cross and self-phase modulation results in the nonlinear optics-mediated standard quantum limit (SQL) of the angle random walk of the gyroscope. We also found that the measurement sensitivity of a generic optical gyroscope is fundamentally limited due to the opto-mechanical properties of the device. Ponderomotive action of the light interrogating the gyroscope cavity leads to the opto-mechanical SQL of the rotation angle detection. The uncorrelated quantum fluctuations of power of clockwise and counterclockwise light waves result in optical power-dependent uncertainty of the angular gyroscope position.

N.M. Pomerantsev, G. V. Skrotskiǐ

Andrey B. Matsko, Sergey P. Vyatchanin

We found that the measurement sensitivity of an optical integrating gyroscope is fundamentally limited due to ponderomotive action of the light leading to the standard quantum limit of the rotation angle detection. The uncorrelated quantum fluctuations of power of clockwise and counterclockwise electromagnetic waves result in optical power-dependent uncertainty of the angular gyroscope position. We also show that, on the other hand, a quantum back action evading measurement of angular momentum of a gyroscope becomes feasible if proper measurement strategy is selected. The angle is perturbed in this case. This observation hints on fundamental inequivalency of integrating and rate gyroscopes.