High Peak Power Optical Amplifier Using Wavelength Interleaving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lasers struggle to achieve high peak power levels required for applications like laser fusion, high harmonic generation, and medical procedures, as existing systems are either inefficient or too large and expensive, and few can meet the requirements for average power output and pulse repetition rate for laser-generated extreme ultraviolet light sources.
Innovation Solution
The method involves interleaving pulse trains of different wavelengths, spatially and temporally overlapping them to produce an amplified output beam with very high peak power, using a system comprising seed laser sources, delay optics, amplifiers, and dispersive optics to individually amplify and recombine spectral components, potentially incorporating phase controllers for electromagnetic field summation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional beam combining systems (WBC or CBC) are used to achieve higher power output levels, then power output is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the optical spectrum into multiple wavelength channels, each carrying a portion of the total power. By dividing the power across multiple wavelengths and then combining them temporally and spatially, the system achieves high power output without requiring a single complex high-power amplifier, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high power capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from spatial beam combining (conventional WBC/CBC) to temporal beam combining by uniquely delaying each wavelength component. This dimensional shift from spatial to temporal domain allows for simpler combining optics and reduces the complexity associated with precise spatial alignment and phase control required in conventional beam combining systems
2Power
If multiple wavelengths are amplified and combined to achieve high peak power, then peak power is improved, but temporal synchronization difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary temporal delays to each wavelength component before amplification, based on predetermined delay values stored in a lookup table. This pre-planned timing strategy ensures that all wavelength components arrive at the combiner in perfect temporal synchronization, eliminating synchronization difficulties that would otherwise arise from varying amplification times and path lengths
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the actual arrival times of wavelength components are monitored and compared against predetermined delay values. This feedback allows for real-time verification and adjustment of temporal synchronization, ensuring that peak power is achieved through precise temporal overlap of all wavelength components
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
This approach enables the generation of high peak power optical beams, exceeding 1 MegaWatt, with scalable peak power that meets the demands of applications like laser-generated extreme ultraviolet light sources, offering a compact and efficient solution.
Implementation Method 1
an amplifier configured to receive the waveform and to amplify each wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths to provide an amplified waveform
Implementation Method 2
dispersive optics optically coupled between the amplifier and the second delay optics and configured to receive the spatially spectrally disperse the amplified waveform
Implementation Method 3
the dispersive optics comprises at least one of a wavelength division de-multiplexer, a diffraction grating, a beam splitter, and a mirror
Implementation Method 4
a transform lens optically coupled to the second delay optics and configured to receive the plurality of amplified wavelengths that have been temporally overlapped by the second delay optics and to spatially overlap the plurality of amplified wavelengths to form the output beam
Implementation Method 5
a non-linear crystal, a beam splitter configured to deflect a portion of the output beam to the non-linear crystal
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for providing a high peak power optical beam. The method includes interleaving pulse trains of different wavelengths and spatially and temporally overlapping the different wavelengths to produce an amplified output beam with very high peak power.