Laser beam transformation and combination using tapered waveguides
US7313299B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 25, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/264
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for transmitting the spatial profile of laser beams with particular applicability to coherently combine laser beams into one beam. The system includes a tapered waveguide with an inlet and outlet at ends of two waveguide elements each having a reflective surface facing into the waveguide. The reflective surfaces are non-parallel such that the inlet height is different than the outlet height, e.g., inlet height greater than outlet height. The system includes a beam input assembly controlling phases of laser beams input at the waveguide inlet, and the phases of the beams are locked to a substantially single phase. The waveguide length is selected to produce at the waveguide outlet a coherently combined laser beam from the input beams. The beam input assembly includes a laser beam source, a beam splitter generating lower power beams from source beams, and phase adjusters for controlling the phase of each input beam.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.