Perturbed Fiber Beam Characteristic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical systems face challenges in varying laser beam characteristics without introducing complexity, cost, size, weight, or optical loss, especially in high power laser systems where safety interlocks and monitoring systems can be compromised, and fiber splicing is impractical for end users.
Innovation Solution
The method involves perturbing an optical beam within a fiber to adjust its characteristics by bending, acousto-optic excitation, or thermal perturbation, and coupling it into a second fiber with specific refractive index profiles to maintain and modify beam parameters like beam diameter, divergence, and intensity distribution, using confinement regions to preserve these adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If beam characteristics are varied using conventional optics downstream of the delivery fiber, then selected beam characteristics can be produced, but device complexity, cost, size, weight, and optical loss increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the beam modification function from the downstream optics and relocates it to the delivery fiber itself by perturbing the fiber's refractive index profile. This removes the need for complex external optical components while maintaining beam characteristic variability.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery fiber is designed to perform multiple functions: both beam transmission and beam characteristic modification. By making the fiber itself capable of varying beam parameters through refractive index perturbation, the system eliminates the need for separate beam shaping optics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If beam characteristics are varied using conventional optics downstream of the delivery fiber, then selected beam characteristics can be produced, but cost and size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the beam transmission function and beam modification function into a single component - the delivery fiber. By combining these functions, the system eliminates separate beam shaping optics, reducing overall system weight while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If fiber splicing is used to couple high power lasers to other fibers, then beam coupling is achieved, but mechanical protection and safety monitoring complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple fiber segments into a single integrated delivery fiber with perturbed refractive index regions. This eliminates the need for physical splicing and associated mechanical protection structures, simplifying the system while maintaining coupling functionality.
4Reliability
If safety interlocks and power monitoring systems are present in high power laser systems, then operator safety is ensured, but desirable reconfigurations may render these safety measures ineffective or require complex adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies localized refractive index perturbations at specific positions within the delivery fiber to achieve beam modification. This localized approach allows reconfiguration without affecting the overall safety monitoring systems, as the changes are confined to specific regions rather than requiring system-wide reconfiguration.
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 allows for flexible and controlled modification of laser beam characteristics, reducing complexity and cost while maintaining safety and practicality, enabling adaptation to changing application requirements without compromising safety interlocks or requiring complex adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
perturbing the first length of fiber by bending to alter a bend radius or alter a length of a bent region of the first length of fiber
Implementation Method 2
coupling the perturbed optical beam into a second length of fiber and maintaining at least a portion of one or more adjusted beam characteristics within a second length of fiber having one or more confinement regions
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods, apparatus, and systems for providing an optical beam delivery system, comprising an optical fiber including a first length of fiber comprising a first RIP formed to enable, at least in part, modification of one or more beam characteristics of an optical beam by a perturbation assembly arranged to modify the one or more beam characteristics, the perturbation assembly coupled to the first length of fiber or integral with the first length of fiber, or a combination thereof and a second length of fiber coupled to the first length of fiber and having a second RIP formed to preserve at least a portion of the one or more beam characteristics of the optical beam modified by the perturbation assembly within one or more first confinement regions. The optical beam delivery system may include an optical system coupled to the second length of fiber including one or more free-space optics configured to receive and transmit an optical beam comprising the modified one or more beam characteristics.