Laser Beam Combining System Using Segmentation and Polarization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser systems have low power and output brightness, and the beam quality of combined lasers does not meet application requirements.
Innovation Solution
A laser beam combining system that includes a reflective device with two perpendicular reflective surfaces to divide a high-polarization laser into two beams, a polarization conversion element to change the polarization direction of one beam, and a beam combining device to combine the beams into a single output, improving beam quality and brightness without significantly altering output power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If laser units are combined into a laser array to increase output power and brightness, then the output power and brightness increase, but the beam quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The incident laser beam is divided into two separate beams by the reflective device with two reflective surfaces. Each beam is then independently processed (one beam undergoes polarization conversion) before being combined, allowing quality improvement while maintaining power scaling
Solution Approach 2:
The polarization state of one of the divided beams is changed using a polarization conversion element (half wave plate). This parameter change enables the beam combining device to effectively combine the beams with improved quality while maintaining the increased output power from the laser array
2Illumination intensity
If laser units are combined into a laser array to increase output brightness, then the brightness increases, but the beam quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The incident laser beam is segmented into two separate beams by the reflective device. This segmentation allows one beam to be processed with polarization conversion while maintaining the brightness increase from the array configuration, and both beams are then combined with improved quality
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the polarization parameter of one beam through the polarization conversion element, the system achieves improved beam quality in the combined output while preserving the high brightness characteristic of the laser array configuration
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 effectively doubles the beam quality and brightness of the output laser while maintaining nearly unchanged output power, enhancing its applicability.
Implementation Method 1
The reflective device includes two reflective surfaces configured to divide a high-polarization laser incident on the reflective device into a first beam and a second beam respectively reflected in different directions
Implementation Method 2
The polarization conversion element is configured to convert the second beam into a light having a polarization direction perpendicular to an original polarization direction of the second beam
Data Source
AI summary
A laser beam combining system, including at least one beam combining unit. The beam combining unit includes reflective device, polarization conversion element and beam combining device. The reflective device includes two reflective surfaces configured to divide a high-polarization laser into a first beam and a second beam. The first beam is incident on the beam combining device. The polarization conversion element is provided on a propagation path of the second beam to convert the second beam into a light having a polarization direction perpendicular to an original polarization direction of the second beam. The converted light is guided to the beam combining device which is configured to combine the first beam and the converted light into one beam for outputting.