Coherent fiber-optics-array collimator based on a single unitary collimating lens: proposal design and experimental...

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics
• Optical Engineering

Background:

• Coherent beam combination is crucial for high-power laser systems.
• Traditional methods often require complex optical setups and multiple lenses.
• Efficient collimation and phase control of multiple fiber lasers present significant challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and experimentally validate a novel Coherent Fiber-Optics-Array Collimator (CFAC).
• To demonstrate synchronous aberrationless collimating and parallel propagation of multiple laser beams.
• To achieve coherent beam combination with precise phase error suppression.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual design and theoretical analysis using geometrical optics.
• Proof-of-concept experiment with three coherent fiber lasers.
• Implementation of a single-frequency dithering algorithm for phase control.
• Utilizing a single unitary collimating lens and a prism array.

Main Results:

• Successful synchronous aberrationless collimating of three laser beams.
• Achieved parallel propagation of the collimated beams using a prism array.
• Demonstrated coherent beam combination with residual phase errors suppressed below λ/26 via active piston phase control.
• Experimental far-field intensity patterns closely matched simulation results.

Conclusions:

• The proposed CFAC system offers an efficient solution for coherent beam combination of multiple fiber lasers.
• The system enables aberrationless collimating and precise phase control using a compact optical design.
• Experimental validation confirms the effectiveness of the CFAC for advanced laser applications.