The optical fiber is precisely wound around an aluminum spool to create the Sagnac effect.
"When seismic activity occurs, the surface of the earth will experience linear and rotational motion. Since this rotation caused by seismic activity is generally very small and difficult to monitor, the ability to monitor this rotation will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the internal dynamics of the earth and the source of earthquakes." said Avino Saverio, head of the research team at the Italian National Institute of Optics.
In order to better monitor the ground rotation caused by earthquakes in active volcanic areas, Avino and others built a 2 km long high-sensitivity fiber optic gyroscope in the Campi Flegrei active volcano area in Naples, Italy. The gyroscope performed well when continuously recording data for up to 5 months, and was able to monitor the noise and ground rotation of small and medium-sized local earthquakes. The relevant research results were published in the journal Applied Optics. Galuzzo Danilo, a member of the research team from the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, said: "Fiber optic gyroscopes capable of measuring ground rotation will help to fully understand volcanic seismic signals, which is essential for detecting real-time changes in volcanic dynamics."
