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A high-sensitivity gyroscope is vital for both investigation of the fundamental physics and monitoring of the subtle variation of Earth’s behaviors. However, it is a challenge to realize a portable gyroscope with sensitivity approaching a small fraction of the Earth’s rotation rate. Here, we theoretically propose a method for implementing a table-top gyroscope with remarkably high sensitivity based on photon drag in a rotating dielectric object. By inserting an Er3+-doped glass rod in a Fabry–Pérot optical cavity with only 20 cm length, we theoretically show that the giant group refractive index and the narrowing cavity linewidth due to slow light can essentially increase the nonreciprocal phase shift due to the photon drag to achieve a rotation sensitivity of 26 frad/s/Hz. This work paves the way to accurately detect tiny variations of the Earth’s rotation rate and orientation and even can test the geodetic and frame-dragging effects predicted by the general relativity with small-volume equipment.

Light emission from gold nanoparticles was investigated with ultra-narrow-band notch filters to obtain the complete spectral shape. The anti-Stokes emission band was observed at all excitation wavelengths. The spectral shape of the anti-Stokes emission could be well fitted by a Fermi–Dirac-like line shape, while the spectral profile of the Stokes emission could be fitted by a Lorentzian line shape. The electron distribution and local surface plasmon resonance jointly determined the spectral shape. Additionally, we found that the anti-Stokes emission intensity increased more rapidly compared with that of the Stokes emission as illumination power was increased. This phenomenon can be understood from the temperature dependence of the electron distribution owing to photothermal effects.