Impact of giant resonant dispersion on the response of intracavity phase interferometry and laser gyros

Abstract

Intracavity Phase Interferometry is a phase sensing technique using mode-locked lasers in which two intracavity pulses circulate. The beat frequency between the two output frequency combs is proportional to a phase shift to be measured. A laser gyro is a particular implementation of this device. The demonstrated sensitivity of $10^{-8}$ could be manipulated by applying a giant dispersion to each tooth of the comb. Such coupling is achieved with an intracavity etalon, resulting a large change in phase response of a ring laser. This change is shown to be unrelated to the average pulse velocity within the laser cavity.