Long-term frequency stabilization of a 16 m2 ring laser gyroscope

A 16 m(2) helium-neon-based ring laser gyroscope has been frequency stabilized to within 60 kHz over a period of three months. This is achieved using the beat frequency of the ring laser and an iodine-stabilized reference laser as a feedback signal on a pressure vessel enclosing the entire laser, under servo control. We demonstrate that we can compensate for, and thereby negate the influence of, atmospheric pressure variations, which are considerable sources of long-term instability. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America