Incoherent Beam Combining with Real-Time Holographic Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for combining multiple incoherent laser beams require complex and expensive adaptive optics systems with precise alignment and control, making them impractical for fieldable systems and failing to maintain high far field beam quality across varying target ranges.
Innovation Solution
The system uses a self-referenced interferometer-generated hologram on a Spatial Light Modulator to combine incoherent beams by angle through carrier frequency tilt fringes, compensating for optical path aberrations and emitting a diffraction-limited full aperture far field intensity without the need for complex adaptive optics, employing a local-referenced interferometer and relay optics to correct for path perturbations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate beam control or adaptive optics are used for each laser beam, then beam alignment and far field quality can be maintained, but system complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate beam control systems into a single integrated system. Multiple incoherent laser beams are spatially overlapped and propagated through a common optical path, eliminating the need for separate adaptive optics for each beam. A single spatial light modulator (SLM) performs wavefront correction for all beams simultaneously, reducing system complexity while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The spatial light modulator serves multiple functions: it acts as a beam combiner, wavefront corrector, and alignment controller for all laser beams simultaneously. The common optical path serves all beams for propagation and focusing, providing universal functionality that reduces the number of components needed.
2Manufacturing precision
If precise piston, tip and tilt control is implemented for each beam, then far field beam quality is maintained, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple piston, tip, and tilt control functions into a single spatial light modulator that processes all beams simultaneously. The SLM applies phase corrections that account for misalignments in all beams through a common optical path, eliminating the need for separate control systems for each beam while maintaining beam quality.
3Reliability
If conventional adaptive optical devices are used, then optical path compensation can be achieved, but the system becomes fragile and requires constant tuning
Solution Approach 1:
The spatial light modulator performs self-testing and self-correction by monitoring the combined beam output and automatically adjusting the phase corrections. The system uses the combined beam itself as a reference for alignment verification, eliminating the need for external tuning mechanisms and reducing fragility.
4Ease of manufacture
If visible overlap of beams is required for combination, then beam combining can be achieved, but knowledge of target range is required and system flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spatial light modulator dynamically adjusts the phase profiles of combined beams in real-time based on feedback from the common optical path. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain beam overlap and focus at varying target ranges without requiring physical reconfiguration, providing adaptability across different operating conditions.
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 simplifies beam combination, reduces system complexity and cost, and improves far field beam quality by achieving spatial overlap and compensation of multiple incoherent laser beams across all target ranges using a single adaptive optics device, enhancing beam focusing and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
An interferometer receives a sample of the reflected illumination beam and provides interference fringes
Implementation Method 2
A spatial light modulator receives the interference fringes and generates a real time hologram
Implementation Method 3
the incoherent beams are combined by angle using carrier frequency tilt fringes
Implementation Method 4
Relay optics are employed for transmitting the combined plurality of incoherent beams to the SLM and receiving a diffraction corrected full aperture compensated combined beam
Data Source
AI summary
A system for path compensation of multiple incoherent optical beams incorporates an optical element combining a plurality of incoherent beams to an aperture by angle using carrier frequency tilt fringes. An illumination laser is employed for reflection of an illumination beam from a target. An interferometer receives a sample of the reflected illumination beam reflected from the target and provides interference fringes. A spatial light modulator receives the interference fringes and generates a real time hologram. Relay optics are employed for transmitting the combined plurality of incoherent beams to the SLM and receiving a diffraction corrected full aperture compensated combined beam for emission to the far field.