Phase and Frequency Control of Laser Arrays for Pulse Synthesis

Abstract

A phase locked source, consisting of three beams at fo, fo - 80 MHz, and fo + 80 MHz, was demonstrated. Fast feedback was implemented by an FPGA using a single phase-sensitive detector that recorded the peak power of the waveform. We use feedback from a piezo and current-control of a tapered amplifier. We have demonstrated a pulse train of 4.9 ns pulses at 80 MHz, an order of magnitude reduction in phase noise, and the potential for long-term stability. Additionally, we have explored methods for improving the beam quality of a broad area laser array in a wavelength beam combining cavity. Brightness can be increased by imaging the diffraction-limited fast axis back onto the slow axis, with proper astigmatism compensation. The work has been submitted to the 2014 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO), presented at the 2013 CLEO, one journal paper published in Optics Express, and another is currently under review for publication in Optics Letters.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 02, 2015
Accession Number
AD1013214

Entities

People

  • Juliet T. Gopinath

Organizations

  • University of Colorado Boulder

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Control Systems
  • Detectors
  • Diffraction
  • Electro-Optics
  • Frequency Combs
  • Laser Applications
  • Laser Arrays
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Diodes
  • Laser Science
  • Lasers
  • Masers
  • Modulation
  • Nonlinear Optics
  • Optics
  • Semiconductor Lasers
  • Semiconductors

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy