Silicon photonics characterization platform for gyroscopic devices

Large-area silicon-on-insulator (SOI) ring resonators, to be used as optical gyroscopes, have been designed and fabricated using an e-beam process. To characterize the devices, an automated turntable stage with an embedded high resolution gyroscope has been built. Its large payload capacity allows for safe rotation of a temperature-controlled opto-mechanical setup. A field programmable gate array interface has been implemented for mechanical actuation and signal acquisition. Various rotation schemes have been implemented to characterize the apparatus and devices. The turntable exhibits a bandwidth of 0.54 Hz, and minimum and maximum repeatable angular rates of 27 and 74.3 degrees per second (dps), with a maximum associated angular rate noise level of 2 dps.