Patent ID: 8432551

Claim:
A ring laser gyroscope comprising: a cavity containing a gain medium having a first linewidth; a first plurality of reflective surfaces coupled to the cavity, the first plurality of reflective surfaces including at least a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a third reflective surface, wherein the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface, and the third reflective surface of the plurality of reflective surfaces are positioned to reflect light along a path defined in the cavity between the plurality of reflective surfaces; at least one medium exciter operable to excite the gain medium, wherein the excited gain medium induces first and second laser fields within the cavity; wherein a portion of the cavity contains an absorption medium having a second linewidth that is narrower than the first linewidth of the gain medium; and wherein the absorption medium is configured to reduce the gain of the first and second laser fields at a first range of frequencies based on the relationship between the second linewidth and the first linewidth to achieve a gain profile for the ring laser gyroscope having two peaks separated by a trough, wherein anomalous dispersion of light occurs at frequencies within the trough.