Diffractive optical elements for transformation of modes in lasers

US9124066B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC · US

Inventors

• Arun K. Sridharan · Fremont, US
• Paul H. Pax · Union City, US
• John E. Heebner · Livermore, US
• Derrek R. Drachenberg · Livermore, US
• James P. Armstrong · Livermore, US
• Jay W. Dawson · Livermore, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 8, 2013
• Grant date: Sep 1, 2015
• Expiry date: Jun 2, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/2383
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Spatial mode conversion modules are described, with the capability of efficiently transforming a given optical beam profile, at one plane in space into another well-defined optical beam profile at a different plane in space, whose detailed spatial features and symmetry properties can, in general, differ significantly. The modules are comprised of passive, high-efficiency, low-loss diffractive optical elements, combined with Fourier transform optics. Design rules are described that employ phase retrieval techniques and associated algorithms to determine the necessary profiles of the diffractive optical components. System augmentations are described that utilize real-time adaptive optical techniques for enhanced performance as well as power scaling.