Counter-Pumped Fiber Laser Array With Shared Pump Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fiber laser arrays are complex, costly, and inefficient due to the need for individual pump lasers, combiners, and mode adapters, limiting their scalability and performance in high-energy density applications.
Innovation Solution
A fiber laser system utilizing a fly's eye fiber laser array (FEFLA) architecture with tightly packed, hexagonal or square tapered end caps, spliced to gain fibers, and a single counter-pumping light source, eliminating the need for individual pump sources and complex optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fiber laser arrays use individual pump sources, combiners, and mode adapters for each fiber, then each fiber can be pumped effectively, but the system complexity, cost, and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual pump sources into a single shared pump source that illuminates the entire array of fiber amplifiers simultaneously. This eliminates the need for separate pump sources, combiners, and mode adapters for each fiber, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining pumping efficiency through the use of a common pump chamber and shared optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The single pump source serves multiple functions by simultaneously pumping all fiber amplifiers in the array through the shared pump chamber. This universal approach allows one pump source to perform the work of many individual sources, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the reliability of pumping each fiber effectively.
2Reliability
If conventional fiber laser arrays use multiple individual pump sources and combiners, then each fiber receives adequate pump light, but the cost of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual pump sources into a single shared pump source that serves the entire array of fiber amplifiers. This merging eliminates the need for multiple expensive pump sources, combiners, and mode adapters, thereby significantly reducing system cost while maintaining reliable pumping efficiency through the shared pump chamber design.
3Reliability
If conventional fiber laser arrays use individual mode adapters for each fiber, then mode matching is optimized, but the system size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates individual mode adapters for each fiber by using a shared pump chamber design where the pump source illuminates all fiber amplifiers simultaneously. This merging approach removes the weight of multiple individual mode adapters while maintaining mode matching through the common optical path and shared pump geometry.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fiber laser arrays use multiple pump sources and components, then each fiber can be independently controlled, but the system becomes less scalable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a universal shared pump source that can service any number of fiber amplifiers in the array, making the system highly scalable. While individual control is reduced compared to separate pump sources, the system maintains adaptability through the ability to add or remove fiber amplifiers from the array without adding corresponding pump sources, thereby improving scalability while retaining essential control capabilities.
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
Achieves high efficiency, reduced complexity, and lower cost per watt by simplifying the pumping function, allowing for scalable, rugged, and reliable high-power fiber laser arrays with minimal light leakage and improved beam quality.
Implementation Method 1
A dichroic mirror is configured to receive the counter-pumping light from the counter-pumping light source and to receive the signal light from the array of tapered end caps. The dichroic mirror is further configured to allow the counter-pumping light received by the dichroic mirror to pass through the dichroic mirror and reflect the signal light received by the dichroic mirror
Implementation Method 2
an array of gain fibers configured to transmit signal light; an array of tapered end caps configured to receive the signal light from the array of gain fibers and output the signal light
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber laser system includes: an array of gain fibers configured to transmit signal light; and an array of tapered end caps configured to receive the signal light and output the signal light, wherein each gain fiber in the array of gain fibers is spliced to a respective tapered end cap of the array of tapered end caps. A counter-pumping light source is configured to output counter-pumping light. A dichroic mirror is configured to receive the counter-pumping light and the signal light from the array of tapered end caps. The dichroic mirror is further configured to either allow the counter-pumping light received by the dichroic mirror to pass through the dichroic mirror and reflect the signal light received by the dichroic mirror or allow the signal light received by the dichroic mirror to pass through the dichroic mirror and reflect the counter-pumping light received by the dichroic mirror.