This paper is dedicated to the history of development of a gyroscope based on the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) effect, in the USSR and Russia. The paper presents early references to the idea of using the electrons and other elementary particles, as well as atoms as a working medium in gyroscopy. The main stages of development of a NMR-gyroscope construction principles are briefly described. Works on spin oscillators and stabilizers based on mercury isotopes and on exchange-oriented nuclei of noble gases are discussed. The paper shows how these stages are linked with emerging new areas (disciplines) of applied nuclear physics, such as spectroscopy (electronic paramagnetic resonance and NMR), optical pumping, and exchange orientation.

We present the basic theory governing spin-exchange-pumped nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyros. We review the physics of spin-exchange collisions and relaxation as they pertain to precision NMR. We present a simple model of operation as an NMR oscillator and use it to analyze the dynamic response and noise properties of the oscillator. We discuss the primary systematic errors (differential alkali fields, quadrupole shifts, and offset drifts) that limit the bias stability, and discuss methods to minimize them. We give with a brief overview of a practical implementation and performance of an NMR gyro built by Northrop Grumman Corporation and conclude with some comments about future prospects.

The paper presents the estimations of the main threshold metrological parameters of a nuclear magnetic resonance gyro (NMG) on xenon isotopes. Principal factors limiting the sensitivity are listed, such as atomic projection noise and light fluctuation noise. Formulas are derived to estimate the threshold sensitivity of NMG and study its dependence on the sensor parameters. The main causes of NMG drifts are considered, as well as possible ways to improve its metrological characteristics.

895 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with fixed output polarization have been developed. Lasers provide more than 1 mW single-mode output power at about 20 dB orthogonal polarization suppression ratio at operation temperature 60°С. The developed VCSELs were used in laser sources for perspective compact nu-clear-magnetic-resonance gyroscope. Designed laser source provides precise wave-length tuning to the D1 line of Cs133 and collimated output beam.

The paper considers a common operation principle of a quantum rotation sensor based on nuclear magnetic resonance, giving a semiclassical description of processes in the sensor circuit, that enables the analytical representation to be obtained for a signal at the optical circuit output. The principles of numerical calculation are briefly presented for an optical signal of the rotation sensor based on a one-dimensional quantum model. The comparison of calculations according to classical model and more strict quantum model has shown that the sensor signal has a more complicated structure than that following from the classical description which shows only some

properties of dynamic processes in the circuit. The results are important for development of methods of demodulating the quantum rotation sensor optical signal and for estimation of expected characteristics of practical devices.