Excess Noise Reduction in Fiber Gyroscope Using Broader Spectrum Linewidth Er-Doped Superfluorescent Fiber Laser

The minimum detectable rotation rate of fiber gyroscope employing a rare Earth-doped superfiuorescent laser (SFL) is theoretically proportional to the inverse square root of the spectrum linewidth AX of the employed SFL due to its excess noise. We examine the short-term resolution of a fiber gyroscope using an Er-doped SFL with Al codoping that has larger AX value than that without Al. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical prediction. The Er-doped SFL with Al can successfully improve the resolution as compared with that without Al.