Patent ID: 9651378
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: G01C

Claim:
1. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyroscope system comprising: a vapor cell that is sealed to enclose an alkali metal and a gyromagnetic isotope; a magnetic field source configured to generate a magnetic field that is aligned with a sensitive axis of the NMR gyroscope system and which is provided through the vapor cell to cause the alkali metal and the gyromagnetic isotope to precess; a laser configured to generate an optical beam that polarizes the alkali metal in the vapor cell to facilitate the precession of the alkali metal and the gyromagnetic isotope, the optical beam being provided through the vapor cell at an offset angle relative to the magnetic field, the offset angle being based on a signal-to-noise ratio associated with absorption of the optical beam by the alkali metal; and an angular rotation sensor configured to calculate a rotation angle about the sensitive axis based on a measured characteristic of a detection beam corresponding to the optical beam exiting the vapor cell, the characteristic being associated with the precession of the gyromagnetic isotope.