The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Gyroscope: a Review

Abstract

A review of the nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope (NMRG) as a rotation-rate sensor is presented. Most of the activity in the recent past on NMRG research originated in the USA and concentrated almost exclusively on forms of the NMRG utilizing optical-pumping techniques. To date, only the National Air Defence Centre at Warminster, Pennsylvania continues to pursue a low-cost variant of the NMRG while in the UK, only ARE (Slough) and Sussex University remain active in NMRG research. The emphasis on activity in the Navigation Division at ARE (Slough) has continued to be on cryogenic helium-3 (3He) techniques and the use of superconducting shielding (although optical-pumping will also be pursued). The continuing incentive for NMRG research remains the requirement for a ship's low-cost inertial navigation system (SLINS).