Coherent summation of laser beams using binary phase gratings

A method for coherent addition of lasers is presented that uses binary phase-only gratings. It is shown that a grating that splits a single beam into N equal orders with high efficiency can be used in reverse to convert N laser beams into a single beam with the same efficiency. Experiments to demons...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics letters 1986-05, Vol.11 (5), p.303-305
Main Authors: VELDKAMP, W. B, LEGER, J. R, SWANSON, G. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Design of specific laser systems
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications)
Laser optical systems: design and operation
Optics
Physics
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Summary:A method for coherent addition of lasers is presented that uses binary phase-only gratings. It is shown that a grating that splits a single beam into N equal orders with high efficiency can be used in reverse to convert N laser beams into a single beam with the same efficiency. Experiments to demonstrate the conversion of seven beams to one beam are performed with a resulting conversion efficency of 75 percent. An experimental apparatus is described that adds the power from both two and three He-Ne lasers (wavelength, 3.39 microns) with efficiencies as high as 83 percent. (Author)
ISSN:0146-9592
1539-4794
DOI:10.1364/OL.11.000303