METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLANAR ALIGNMENT OF A RING LASER GYROSCOPE FORMINIMUM MAGNETIC BIAS SENSITIVITY

摘要

ABSTRACTA method and apparatus for aligning the lightpath of a square ring laser gyroscope wherein the alignmentmethod includes directing two input beams of light into thecavity of the gyroscope. Next, the input beams areintercepted prior to their incidence upon the input mirrorwith a pair of polarizers. Subsequently, the extinctionratios of the first and second output beams of light aremeasured at the exit mirror. The curved mirrors of thegyroscope are then translated in opposite directions andequal amplitude so as to change the extinction ratios ofthe output beams. Such translations are repeated until themeasured extinction ratios are substantially equal.