Piezoelectric drive for a ring laser gyroscope

This paper discusses a system for adjusting the perimeter of a frequency-stabilized ring laser gyroscope. It is shown that the main error source of the gyroscope is temperature effects on the path length of the optical cavity. The design of a piezo adjuster, which is the basic element of a system for adjusting the gyroscope perimeter, is considered. The main requirements imposed on the piezo adjuster for its successful operation as part of the laser gyroscope are listed. A physicomathematical model for the piezo adjuster and a number of computer programs based on it are considered. Results are given of the numerical modelling of various designs of the piezo adjuster, including the existing design. It is shown that the output parameters of the laser gyroscope can be substantially improved by changing the geometrical parameters of the design elements. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America.