Multi-Plane Beam Combining for Low-Divergence Target Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices struggle to maintain the quality of combined light beams when input beams are not perfectly coherent or have unequal intensities, leading to increased divergence and energy loss.
Innovation Solution
An optical device with a multi-plane light conversion system that includes microstructured zones to transform incident radiation into a target mode, using a combination of primary and interference supermodes to control the phase and amplitude of input light beams, ensuring energy is transported into a desired output mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a multi-plane light conversion device is used to combine multiple coherent beams, then the energy transport efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases and the difficulty of maintaining beam coherence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The input mode base is segmented into a main supermode and multiple interference supermodes, allowing selective transport of energy from the main supermode to the target mode while managing interference components separately. This segmentation enables efficient energy transport without requiring perfect coherence across all input beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs partial modal conversion by transporting only the portion of incident radiation present in the main supermode into the target mode, while allowing interference supermodes to be transformed into deformation modes. This partial action approach maintains energy efficiency without requiring complete coherence control.
2Manufacturing precision
If modal conversion is performed to transform input modes into a Gaussian output mode, then the beam quality is improved, but the sensitivity to coherence requirements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the modal parameters of the input beams by transforming the main supermode into a target mode with desired spatial characteristics. This parameter transformation improves beam quality while the device's design makes it tolerant to phase variations in the interference supermodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The modal conversion focuses on transforming the main supermode components while allowing interference components to be handled separately as deformation modes. This partial conversion approach maintains beam quality without requiring strict coherence control across all input beams.
3Power
If multiple beams are combined to increase power, then the output power is improved, but the beam divergence increases when coherence is not perfect
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the combined beam into a main supermode component that is transformed into a focused target mode and interference supermode components that are transformed into deformation modes. This segmentation allows power combination while controlling the spatial distribution to minimize divergence.
Solution Approach 2:
The device applies different transformation operations to different parts of the input mode space: the main supermode is transformed into a concentrated target mode with controlled divergence, while interference supermodes are transformed into deformation modes that are spatially separated or have different characteristics. This local quality approach maintains beam concentration despite combining multiple beams.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively forms a controlled output light beam with a target mode, even when input beams are not mutually coherent or have varying intensities, maintaining energy concentration and beam quality.
Implementation Method 1
the microstructuring of the plurality of microstructured zones being designed to carry out a modal conversion of the incident radiation and to prepare transformed radiation
Implementation Method 2
combining a plurality of input light beams that are phase-locked so as to have a predetermined phase difference
Implementation Method 3
an optical element in order to intercept and spatially modify the phase of the incident light radiation during a plurality of reflections or transmissions
Data Source
AI summary
An optical device for forming an output light beam having at least one target mode, by combining a plurality of phase-locked input light beams collectively forming incident light radiation, comprises a conversion device, arranged between the input plane and the output plane, configured to carry out a modal conversion aimed at conveying the energy portion of incident radiation present in a main supermode to the target mode, and aimed at conveying the energy portion of the incident radiation present in interference supermodes to deformation modes. A system for producing an output light beam comprises such an optical device.