Multi-Resonator Laser Beam Combining for Low-BPP Fiber Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lamp pumped laser systems face challenges in maintaining low Beam Parameter Product (BPP) with high pulse energy and frequency due to thermal lensing effects, leading to reduced alignment tolerances and system reliability.
Innovation Solution
A laser system comprising a plurality of resonators, a relay assembly with curved reflective surfaces, a galvo with a curved reflective surface, and a coupling assembly that reduces spherical aberrations, directing the combined laser beam into an optical fiber with a lower BPP than the fiber's minimum BPP.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If lamp pumped laser systems are used to achieve high pulse energy and frequency, then power output is improved, but beam quality (BPP) deteriorates due to thermal lensing effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the laser beam path into multiple segments with different optical functions: a first optical system for beam combining and a second optical system for beam delivery. This segmentation allows each system to be optimized independently - the first system handles high power combining while the second system maintains beam quality for fiber coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system between the laser source and the optical fiber. This intermediate system includes beam combining optics and beam delivery optics that act as mediators to transform the beam characteristics, converting high-power beams with poor quality into a combined beam with improved quality suitable for fiber coupling.
2Manufacturing precision
If beam parameter product is reduced to improve fiber coupling, then alignment tolerance is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to sensitivity to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the beam parameters through optical transformation. By using beam combining and delivery optics, the system transforms the beam to achieve a beam parameter product that is at least 10% less than the fiber's minimum BPP, creating an optimal coupling condition that balances alignment tolerance and reliability.
3Power
If multiple laser beams are combined to increase power, then power output is improved, but beam quality deteriorates due to spherical aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a beam combining optical system as an intermediary that specifically addresses spherical aberrations. This system includes optical elements designed to compensate for aberrations introduced during beam combination, ensuring that the combined high-power beam maintains good quality for subsequent fiber coupling.
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 system achieves a combined laser beam with a BPP at least 10% less than the optical fiber's BPP, improving alignment tolerances and enhancing system reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a relay assembly including at least one curved reflective surface that redirects each input laser beam, and reduces a beam size of the redirected beam
Implementation Method 2
a relay assembly including at least one curved reflective surface that redirects each input laser beam, and reduces a beam size of the redirected beam
Implementation Method 3
a coupling assembly that reduces spherical aberrations in the combined laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
Laser systems and methods are disclosed. One laser system comprises: a plurality of laser resonators, each resonator being operable to discharge an input laser beam; a relay assembly including at least one curved reflective surface that redirects each input laser beam, and reduces a beam size of the redirected beam; a galvo including a curved reflective surface that receives each redirected beam, and outputs a combined laser beam at power level greater than a power level of each laser input beam; and a coupling assembly that reduces spherical aberrations in the combined laser beam, and directs the combined laser beam into an optical fiber. In this system, the combined laser beam may have a maximum beam parameter product lower than a minimum beam parameter product of the optical fiber. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.