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A Photonic System for Generating Unconditional Polarization-Entangled Photons Based on Multiple Quantum Interference
Published on: September 5, 2019
Perturbative analysis of coherent combining efficiency with mismatched lasers
Gregory D Goodno1, Chun-Ching Shih, Joshua E Rothenberg
1Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, One Space Park, R1-1184D, Redondo Beach, California 90045, USA. gregory.goodno@ngc.com
Optics Express
|December 18, 2010
Summary
This study analyzes coherent combining efficiency in large laser arrays. Non-common spatial aberrations significantly impact efficiency, while common-path aberrations do not affect it.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Laser Physics
- Optical Engineering
Background:
- Coherent combining of multiple lasers is crucial for achieving high-power output.
- Non-ideal laser arrays present challenges to achieving optimal combining efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analytically investigate coherent combining efficiency in large, non-ideal laser arrays.
- To identify and quantify sources of efficiency loss in filled aperture combining systems.
Main Methods:
- Development of perturbative expressions for efficiency loss factors.
- Analytical derivation of misalignment losses for Gaussian beams.
- Analysis of non-common and common-path aberrations.
Main Results:
- Efficiency loss is attributed to splitting ratios, power imbalance, misalignments, beam nonuniformities, pointing/wavefront errors, depolarization, and temporal dephasing.
- Non-common spatial aberrations are the primary drivers of coupling efficiency loss.
- Common-path aberrations were found to have no impact on coherent combining efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Coherent combining efficiency is highly sensitive to non-common spatial aberrations.
- Derived metrics provide essential tolerancing for co-alignment and uniformity in single-mode fiber laser arrays.
- The analytical framework enables optimization of large-scale laser combining systems.
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