Chip-scale gyroscope advances photonics
Researchers have developed a highly sensitive optical gyroscope using silicon nitride photonics, highlighting future opportunities for advanced packaging and heterogeneous integration.
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the California Institute of Technology have developed a chip-scale optical gyroscope capable of measuring rotation as low as 37 degrees per hour, representing a nearly 2,000-fold improvement over their previous design.
Published in Optics Letters, the device combines silicon nitride waveguides, optical microresonators and Brillouin lasers using CMOS-compatible fabrication methods.
The technology could benefit advanced packaging through the integration of photonic circuits, lasers, photodetectors and control electronics into compact, stable packages. Key challenges include optical alignment, thermal management and mechanical stability.
The team plans to improve measurement stability and develop a compact, fully integrated system, with potential applications in precision navigation for vehicles, aircraft and spacecraft where GPS is unavailable.
