Chalcogenide-based nonlinear optical gyroscope

拟议项目的目标是一个超灵敏，高性能，芯片级光学陀螺仪，它利用材料的非线性和光敏性，以提高性能。测量旋转物体的旋转是一个重要的科学目标。此外，它在消费电子产品，飞机，惯性导航和天文学中有广泛的应用，从宏观尺度（汽车，石油钻探，航空旅行，太空探索，潜艇导航）到纳米尺度（芯片实验室和生物应用）跨越多个长度尺度。流行的微机电系统（MEMS）陀螺仪利用科里奥利力进行旋转感测，体积小，重量轻，非常适合消费电子产品，汽车需求和医疗仪器。然而，对于要求更高的汽车，机器人，航空航天和国防应用，MEMS解决方案并不适合，因为它们包含移动部件。诸如环形激光陀螺仪和光纤陀螺仪之类的光学陀螺仪提供了一种替代方案，但其信噪比较差，限制了它们的适用性，特别是在全球定位系统（GPS）无效的环境中。此外，这些传统的光学陀螺仪不适合于小型化。在这个提议中，我们提供了一个新的解决方案。对电气、机械和航空航天工程以及天文学和物理学的潜在影响将是巨大的。技术目标自然与教育和推广计划相结合。为本科生和研究生以及研究人员提供的跨学科研究机会将在实验室和课堂上将研究与教育相结合。科罗拉多大学博尔德分校正在推出的电子工程在线硕士学位课程包括半导体、激光器和探测器，由两位PI教授。外联活动包括为代表人数不足的学生举办电磁学夏令营，为代表人数不足的学生举办几个工程日的示范，为电气工程学生团体的女性提供咨询，并在国家需要的领域（GAANN）新授予研究生援助该计划与几个妇女团体有关，包括科学与工程妇女协会和工程妇女协会。科罗拉多博尔德。该项目中提出的创新概念将使芯片级平台的性能达到新的水平，这对于GPS拒绝环境中的导航至关重要。它特别适用于空间、无人机和其他航空航天应用，其中尺寸、重量和功率是关键因素。传统的光学陀螺仪，如环形激光陀螺仪和光纤陀螺仪依赖于Sagnac效应，其中在角旋转的情况下在沿相反方向行进的光束之间引起相移。虽然这些器件是有效的，但它们受到Sagnac效应的弱点以及来自非线性、热波动和反向散射的噪声的限制。这限制了惯性导航系统在必要水平上的性能，特别是在全球定位系统（GPS）无效的环境中。此外，Sagnac效应与路径面积成正比，这对微型器件造成了重大障碍。我们提出了一种新的解决方案的基础上Sagnac效应。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The goal of the proposed project is an ultrasensitive, high performance, chip-scale optical gyroscope, which takes advantage of material nonlinearities and photosensitivity to enhance performance. Measuring rotation of spinning objects is an important scientific objective. Additionally, it has a broad range of applications in consumer electronics, aircraft, inertial navigation, and astronomy, spanning multiple length scales from the macroscale (automotive, oil drilling, air travel, space exploration, submarine navigation) to the nanoscale (lab-on-a-chip and biological applications). The popular micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes, which exploits Coriolis force for rotation sensing, are small, light, and well-suited for consumer electronics, automotive needs, and medical instruments. However, for more demanding automotive, robotics, aerospace and defense applications, MEMS solutions are not suitable as they contain moving parts. Optical gyroscopes such as the ring laser gyroscope and the fiber optical gyroscope offer an alternative but suffer from poor signal-to-noise ratio, limiting their applicability, especially in environments where global positioning systems (GPS) are ineffective. Additionally, these conventional optical gyroscopes do not lend themselves to miniaturization. In this proposal, we offer a novel solution . The potential impact on electrical, mechanical and aerospace engineering, as well as astronomy and physics, will be enormous. The technical goals naturally integrate with the education and outreach plans. Interdisciplinary research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students as well as researchers will blend research with education both in the laboratory and the classroom. The online Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering that University of Colorado Boulder is launching featured courses on both semiconductors, lasers, and detectors taught by both of the PIs. Outreach activities include a summer camp on electromagnetism for under-represented students, demonstration for several Engineering Days for under-represented students, advising of the Women in Electrical Engineering student group and a newly awarded Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program that is tied to several women’s groups include the Women in Science and Engineering and the Society for Women in Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. The innovative concept proposed in this project will enable a new level of performance on a chip-scale platform that will be critical for navigation in GPS-denied environments. It is particularly suited for space, drone, and other aerospace applications, where size, weight and power are critical factors. The conventional optical gyroscopes such as ring laser gyroscope and the fiber optical gyroscope rely on the Sagnac effect, in which a phase shift between optical beams, travelling in opposite directions, is induced under angular rotation. While these devices are effective, they are limited by the weakness of Sagnac effect and noise from nonlinearities, thermal fluctuations, and backscattering. This constrains the ability to perform at the necessary level for inertial navigation systems, especially in environments where global positioning systems (GPS) are ineffective. Additionally, the Sagnac effect is directly proportional to path area, creating significant hurdles for miniature devices. We propose a novel solution based on the Sagnac effect. The combination of a photosensitive, nonlinear chalcogenide material and a chip-scale platform is a game changer.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.