Patent ID: 8451451

Claim:
A ring laser gyroscope comprising: a cavity containing a gain medium having naturally dispersive properties associated with an index of refraction; a plurality of reflective surfaces coupled to the cavity, comprising 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 reflect light along a path between the plurality of reflective surfaces when the ring laser gyroscope is operating; and at least one medium exciter configured to excite the gain medium such that the excited gain medium is configured to induce first and second counter-propagating laser fields along the path within the cavity when the ring laser gyroscope is operating; wherein the path has a length that induces the first and second laser fields at lasing frequencies away from the center of a gain profile for the ring laser gyroscope while the ring laser gyroscope is stationary when the ring laser gyroscope is operating, the lasing frequencies away from the center of the gain profile corresponding to negative slopes of the index of refraction associated with the naturally dispersive properties of the gain medium while the ring laser gyroscope is stationary; and wherein the gain medium causes anomalous dispersion of the first and second laser fields passing through the gain medium at the frequencies away from the center of the gain profile when the ring laser gyroscope is operating.