Suppression of Nonlinear Interactions in Resonant Macroscopic Quantum Devices : the Example of the Solid-State Ring Laser Gyroscope

Sylvain Schwartz (1) , François Gutty (2) , Gilles Feugnet (1) , Philippe Bouyer (3) , Jean-Paul Pocholle (1)

1 Thales Research and Technology [Palaiseau]
2 Thales Avionics
3 laboratoire Charles Fabry de l'Institut d'Optique / Optique atomique

We study the suppression of nonlinear interactions in resonant macroscopic quantum devices in the case of the solid-state ring laser gyroscope. These nonlinear interactions are tuned by vibrating the gain medium along the cavity axis. Beat note occurrence under rotation provides a precise measurement of the strength of nonlinear interactions, which turn out to vanish for some discrete values of the amplitude of vibration. Our theoretical description, in very good agreement with the measured data, suggests the use of a higher vibration frequency to achieve quasi-ideal rotation sensing over a broad range of rotation speeds. We finally underline the analogy between this device and some other macroscopic quantum rotation sensors, such as ring-shaped superfluid configurations, where nonlinear interactions could be tuned for example by the use of magnetically-induced Feschbach resonance.

Domaines: Optique [physics.optics]

Sylvain Schwartz, François Gutty, Gilles Feugnet, Philippe Bouyer, Jean-Paul Pocholle. Suppression of Nonlinear Interactions in Resonant Macroscopic Quantum Devices : the Example of the Solid-State Ring Laser Gyroscope. Physical Review Letters, 2008, 100 (18), pp.183901. ⟨hal-00202466⟩