Large Rings
The perimeter dependence of the Signal/Noise ratio is
This equation defines large rings with L >> Lcrit ≈ 40 cm, where S/N becomes proportional to L2. Therefore the sensitivity of large rings increases quadratically with size, hence the quest for ever larger Ring Lasers for Research.
In the past it was thought that only small ring lasers avoid multimode excitation. However, if signal bandwidth is sacrificed, there is no known limit to ring laser size, either theoretically or experimentally.
One of the major advantages of large rings is a quartic reduction of lock-in and pulling in large rings.
Read more about this topic: Ring Laser
Famous quotes containing the words large and/or rings:
“Friends serve central functions for children that parents do not, and they play a critical role in shaping children’s social skills and their sense of identity. . . . The difference between a child with close friendships and a child who wants to make friends but is unable to can be the difference between a child who is happy and a child who is distressed in one large area of life.”
—Zick Rubin (20th century)
“The next time the novelist rings the bell I will not stir though the meeting-house burn down.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)