Laser System Shared Diffractive Optical Element Beam Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser systems that bundle beams from multiple semiconductor laser elements require additional optical elements, leading to increased complexity and variations in beam characteristics due to differences in adjustment and aging of these elements.
Innovation Solution
A laser system design that uses a shared diffractive optical element with opposite angles of incidence for each beam group, a partially reflective element, and a beam deflection element to converge and couple beams from two external resonators, reducing the number of components and stabilizing beam characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If additional optical elements are used in each external resonator to bundle beams from multiple laser elements, then beam coupling is achieved, but the number of components increases and variations in beam characteristics occur due to differences in adjustment and aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical elements of two external resonators into a shared configuration. Specifically, both resonators share a common diffraction grating and a common output coupler, reducing the total number of optical elements while maintaining the ability to bundle beams from multiple laser elements. This merging approach directly addresses the contradiction by decreasing component count while preserving beam coupling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared diffraction grating and output coupler serve multiple functions simultaneously - they are used by both external resonators for beam coupling, wavelength selection, and resonance. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while ensuring consistent beam characteristics since the same optical elements are used across both resonator paths.
2Device complexity
If multiple optical elements are used in each external resonator to achieve beam coupling, then beam bundling is successful, but variations in beam characteristics easily occur due to adjustment differences and aging
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the optical elements into a shared configuration between two external resonators, the patent reduces the number of independent adjustment parameters and component variations. The shared diffraction grating and output coupler ensure that both resonators use identical optical paths, thereby improving beam characteristic consistency and reducing variations due to manufacturing tolerances and aging.
3Reliability
If conventional laser systems use separate optical elements for each external resonator, then beam coupling is achieved, but the system requires more components and has higher adjustment complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the optical elements of two separate external resonators into a shared system. The common diffraction grating and output coupler are used by both resonators, reducing the total component count while maintaining effective beam coupling. This merging approach directly reduces optical element quantity while preserving coupling efficiency through the shared resonant optical paths.
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 configuration reduces the number of components and minimizes variations in beam characteristics, allowing for higher output without increasing light intensity on optical elements, enabling simultaneous oscillation of beams at the same wavelength with a simpler configuration.
Implementation Method 1
a diffractive optical element: to which the first beam group and the second beam group enter in such a manner that positive and negative angles of incidence of each beam of the first beam group and each beam of the second beam group are opposite to each other; and from which a first beam being the converged first beam group, and a second beam being the converged second beam group, are emitted
Implementation Method 2
a partially reflective element adapted to constitute an opposite end of the first external resonator and an opposite end of the second external resonator, adapted to reflect a part of the first beam and a part of the second beam, and adapted to transmit the remainder of the first beam and the remainder of the second beam
Data Source
AI summary
A laser system includes: a first laser element constituting one end of a first external resonator; a second laser element constituting one end of a second external resonator; a diffractive optical element to which a first beam group and a second beam group enter; a partially reflective element that constitutes an opposite end of the first external resonator and an opposite end of the second external resonator, reflects a part of the first beam and a part of the second beam, and transmits the remainder of the first beam and the remainder of the second beam; and a beam deflection element that deflects the second beam emitted from the diffractive optical element toward the partially reflective element.