SCALE FACTOR STABILIZATION OF A BROADBAND FIBER SOURCE USED IN FIBER OPTIC GYROSCOPES IN RADIATION ENVIRONMENTS

摘要

A system for performing scale factor stabilization of a broadband optical signal source used in fiber optic gyroscopes in radiation environments. A filter device is positioned in-line with the broadband light emitted by the gain fiber to attenuate light outside of the bandwidth of the filter device. The filter device allows a bandwidth of light narrower than the spectral width of the broadband light source to propagate through while attenuating all wavelengths of light outside of its operating bandwidth. Only the portion of the broadband source spectrum contained within the bandpass of the filter is selected out, thus narrowing the spectral width of the broadband fiber source. This narrower spectral width reduces the shift of centroid wavelength of the broadband fiber source which results when the gain fiber and other sensitive optical components are exposed to ionizing radiation.