A photonic integrated circuit for use in a fiber optic gyroscope, comprising: a first connector configured to be connected to a light source; a second connector configured to be connected to a photodetector; a third connector configured to be connected to a first port of a fiber coil; a fourth connector configured to be connected to a second port of the fiber coil; a first coupler having a first branch port, a second branch port and a common base port; a waveguide polarizer having a first polarizer port and a second polarizer port; a second coupler having a first branch port, a second branch port and a common base port; a first waveguide, a second waveguide, a third waveguide, a fourth waveguide, a fifth waveguide and a sixth waveguide; the first branch port of the first coupler coupled to the first connector through the first waveguide, the second branch port of the first coupler coupled to the second connector through the second waveguide, and the common base port of the first coupler coupled to the first polarizer port through the third waveguide; the first branch port of the second coupler coupled to the third connector through the fourth waveguide, the second branch port of the second coupler connected to the fourth connector through the fifth waveguide, and the common base port of the second coupler coupled to the second polarizer port through the sixth waveguide; wherein the first through sixth waveguides (318a-f) are optic waveguides configured to be single-mode and polarization-maintaining; characterized by one or both of the third waveguide and sixth waveguide being curved such that the end of the third waveguide at the common base of the first coupler forms an angle with respect to the end of the sixth waveguide at the common base of the second coupler; and by the PIC comprising at least one of a stray light absorber and a deflector deployed alongside the one or more of the fifth waveguide, the polarizer, and the sixth waveguide, the stray light absorber configured to absorb stray light the deflector configured to deflect stray light. a first connector configured to be connected to a light source; a second connector configured to be connected to a photodetector; a third connector configured to be connected to a first port of a fiber coil; a fourth connector configured to be connected to a second port of the fiber coil; a first coupler having a first branch port, a second branch port and a common base port; a waveguide polarizer having a first polarizer port and a second polarizer port; a second coupler having a first branch port, a second branch port and a common base port; a first waveguide, a second waveguide, a third waveguide, a fourth waveguide, a fifth waveguide and a sixth waveguide; the first branch port of the first coupler coupled to the first connector through the first waveguide, the second branch port of the first coupler coupled to the second connector through the second waveguide, and the common base port of the first coupler coupled to the first polarizer port through the third waveguide; the first branch port of the second coupler coupled to the third connector through the fourth waveguide, the second branch port of the second coupler connected to the fourth connector through the fifth waveguide, and the common base port of the second coupler coupled to the second polarizer port through the sixth waveguide; wherein the first through sixth waveguides (318a-f) are optic waveguides configured to be single-mode and polarization-maintaining; characterized by one or both of the third waveguide and sixth waveguide being curved such that the end of the third waveguide at the common base of the first coupler forms an angle with respect to the end of the sixth waveguide at the common base of the second coupler; and by the PIC comprising at least one of a stray light absorber and a deflector deployed alongside the one or more of the fifth waveguide, the polarizer, and the sixth waveguide, the stray light absorber configured to absorb stray light the deflector configured to deflect stray light.