Apparatus and method to facilitate laser gyroscope ionization

1. A ring laser gyroscope comprising:

a frame having a cavity that forms a path defined by a plurality of mirrors;

a gain medium positioned in the cavity that produces counterpropagating light beams when electrically excited;

a cathode and two anodes connected to the cavity and forming two gain regions of the cavity for plasma discharge in opposing directions of the gain regions; and

a solid state light emitting device that illuminates the cathode during at least a startup period of the laser gyroscope to facilitate ionization of the gas medium, the solid state light emitting device generating light at a wavelength that is at or below a threshold wavelength based on a work function of the coating material of the cathode.

2. The laser gyroscope of claim 1 , wherein the solid state light emitting device is a light emitting diode (LED) that produces light at a wavelength that is in the blue to violet range of the visible spectrum.

3. The laser gyroscope of claim 2 , wherein the LED produces light at a wavelength within the range of about 390 nm to about 490 nm.

4. The laser gyroscope of claim 1 , wherein the coating material of the cathode is oxidized aluminum having a work function of about 2.53 ev to about 3.18 ev.

5. The laser gyroscope of claim 4 , wherein the solid state light emitting device is a blue light emitting diode (LED) that produces light at a wavelength of about 430 nm.

6. The laser gyroscope of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply that provides a startup voltage across the anodes and cathode during a startup period and a power supply that provides an operating voltage that is less than the startup voltage once the gas medium has ionized.

7. The laser gyroscope of claim 6 , wherein the startup period is based on one of expiration of a predetermined time period and detection of ionization of the gas medium.

8. The laser gyroscope of claim 1 , wherein the solid state light emitting device comprises a first light emitting diode (LED) and a second LED coupled in parallel with the first LED, the second LED providing redundancy for the first LED.

9. The laser gyroscope of claim 1 , further comprising a photodetector for detecting the counterpropagating light beams, wherein the photodetector outputs are signals indicative of an end to a startup period by detecting laser radiation of the gas medium.

10. The laser gyroscope of claim 1 , wherein the solid state light emitting device is disposed in a recess of the frame.

11. The laser gyroscope of claim 1 , wherein the solid state light emitting device generates light at a wavelength that is above a cutoff wavelength associated with a frame material and frame material thickness.

12. A method for facilitating ionization of a gas medium positioned in a cavity of a frame of a ring laser gyroscope having a cathode and two anodes connected to the cavity and forming two gain regions of the cavity for plasma discharge in opposing directions of the gain regions, the method comprising;

applying a start voltage across the anodes and cathode;

illuminating the cathode with a solid state light source that generates light at a wavelength that is at or below a threshold wavelength based on a work function of a coating material of the cathode;

determining if laser radiation from the gas medium has begun indicating that the gas medium has ionized; and

determining the rotation rate of the laser gyroscope.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the solid state light emitting device is a light emitting diode (LED) that produces light at a wavelength that is in the blue to violet range of the visible spectrum.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the coating material of the cathode is oxidized aluminum having a work function of about 2.8 ev and the LED is a blue light emitting diode (LED) that produces light at a wavelength of about 430 nm.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the startup voltage is about 1000 to about 3000 volts, which reduces to an operating voltage of about 600 to about 800 volts.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the determining if the gas medium has begun to ionize is comprised of one of determining if a startup time period has expired and determining if counterpropagating light beams have been detected.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the solid state light emitting device generates light at a wavelength that is above a cutoff wavelength associates with a frame material and frame material thickness.

18. A method for providing a start aid for a ring laser gyroscope, the method comprising;

determining a start aid threshold wavelength based on a work function of a coating material of a cathode of the ring laser gyroscope;

determining a cutoff wavelength associated with a frame material and a frame material thickness of the ring laser gyroscope; and

selecting a light emitting diode (LED) that has a wavelength between the start aid threshold wavelength and the cutoff wavelength as a start aid.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising installing the selected LED in the laser gyroscope for providing illumination to the cathode during a startup period of the ring laser gyroscope.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the selecting the LED comprises selecting an LED that has a wavelength that is in the blue to violet range of the visible spectrum.