A pair of light waves-one zipping clockwise, the other counter-clockwise around a microscopic track-may hold the key to creating the world's smallest gyroscope a fraction of the width of a human hair.

By bringing this essential technology down to an entirely new scale, a team of applied physicists hopes to enable a new generation of phenomenally compact gyroscope-based navigation systems, among other intriguing applications.

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"We have found a new detection scheme that may lead to the world's smallest gyroscope. Though these so-called optical gyroscopes are not new, our approach is remarkable both in its super-small size and potential sensitivity," said Li Ge, a physicist at the Graduate Center and Staten Island College, City University of New York.

More than creative learning toys, gyroscopes are indispensable components in a number of technologies, including inertial guidance systems, which monitor an object's motion and orientation. Space probes, satellites, and rockets continuously rely on these systems for accurate flight control. But like so many other essential pieces of aerospace technology, weight is a perennial problem.

NASA says it costs about $10,000 for every pound lifted into orbit, so designing essential components that are smaller and lighter is a constant struggle for engineers and project managers.

To start the new optical gyroscope, light waves are first pumped into an optical cavity. This naturally produces light waves traveling in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. This behavior is similar to plucking a guitar string in the middle, sending vibrations in both directions simultaneously.

Though this only reveals one plane of motion, multiple sensors at different orientations will be able to give a fully three-dimensional picture of how the object is moving.

Researchers have called for further studies to look at the possibility that many modes, or light paths, exist simultaneously in the cavity. There are many ways in which their far-field emission patterns may change to cause a reduction of the sensitivity to rotation.

Work is on to devise different methods to gain control over this effect.

TagsWorld's Smallest Light-Powered Gyroscope is Now More Sensitive, Light-Powered Gyroscope, Gyroscope, Light Waves, optical gyroscope