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Ring laser gyroscope
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==Description== The first experimental ring laser gyroscope was demonstrated in the US by Macek and Davis in 1963.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Macek | first1=W. M. | last2=Davis | first2=D. T. M. | title=Rotation rate sensing with traveling-wave ring lasers | journal=Applied Physics Letters | publisher=AIP Publishing | volume=2 | issue=3 | year=1963 | issn=0003-6951 | doi=10.1063/1.1753778 | pages=67–68| bibcode=1963ApPhL...2...67M }}</ref> Various organizations worldwide subsequently developed ring-laser technology further. Many tens of thousands of RLGs are operating in [[inertial navigation system]]s and have established high accuracy, with better than 0.01°/hour bias uncertainty, and [[mean time between failures]] in excess of 60,000 hours. [[Image:ring laser interferometer.png|frame|right|Schematic representation of a ring laser setup. At the beam sampling location, a fraction of each of the counterpropagating beams exits the laser cavity.]] Ring laser gyroscopes can be used as the stable elements (for one degree of freedom each) in an [[inertial reference system]]. The advantage of using an RLG is that there are no moving parts (apart from the dither motor assembly (see further description below), and laser-lock), compared to the conventional spinning [[gyroscope]]. This means there is no friction, which eliminates a significant source of drift. Additionally, the entire unit is compact, lightweight and highly durable, making it suitable for use in mobile systems such as aircraft, missiles, and satellites. Unlike a mechanical gyroscope, the device does not resist changes to its orientation. Contemporary applications of the ring laser gyroscope include an embedded [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] capability to further enhance accuracy of RLG [[inertial navigation system]]s on military aircraft, commercial airliners, ships, and spacecraft. These hybrid INS/GPS units have replaced their mechanical counterparts in most applications. "Ring laser gyroscopes (RLG) have demonstrated to currently be the most sensitive device for testing rotational motion with respect to an inertial frame."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Beverini |first1=N |last2=Di Virgilio |first2=A |last3=Belfi |first3=J |last4=Ortolan |first4=A |last5=Schreiber |first5=K U |last6=Gebauer |first6=A |last7=Klügel |first7=T |title=High-Accuracy Ring Laser Gyroscopes: Earth Rotation Rate and Relativistic Effects |journal=Journal of Physics: Conference Series |date=2016 |volume=723 |issue=1 |page=012061 |doi=10.1088/1742-6596/723/1/012061 |publisher=IOP Publishing|bibcode=2016JPhCS.723a2061B |hdl=11568/796104 |hdl-access=free }} {{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by3|from this source=yes}}</ref>
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