Abstract: We propose a core rotation-sensing element for improving the sensitivity of the micro-optical gyroscope using the large nonreciprocal effect with a photonic crystal. The sharp transmission peak of electromagnetically induced transparency in photonic crystal generated from a periodic distribution of cold atoms is sensitive to the rotation. Our numerical results show that the sensitivity of relative rotation is about 50 times higher and the sensitivity of absolute rotation is more than two orders higher than that of the traditional resonant optical gyroscope. Also, the sensitivity of the gyroscope can be manipulated by varying the atomic density, modulation frequency, probe pulse width, and photonic crystal length, etc.

Key words: optical nonreciprocal effect, photonic crystal, micro-optical gyro, high sensitivity