Open AccessSmall footprint phase locking system for a large tiled aperture laser array
Author(s) -
Alexandre Boju,
Geoffrey Maulion,
Jérémy Saucourt,
Julien Leval,
J Ledortz,
A Koudoro,
J-M Berthomier,
M. Naiim-Habib,
Paul Armand,
Vincent Kermène,
Agnès DesfargesBerthelemot,
Alain Barthélémy
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.420251
Subject(s) - optics , laser , wavefront , fiber laser , footprint , fiber bragg grating , physics , geology , paleontology
A phase sensing system fitted to the control of coherent laser beam array of large cross section is experimented. It is based on the use of a fiber bundle that collects a weak part of the synthetic wavefront, that scales it down (1/40) and that reshapes it in a more compact arrangement (2D to 1D array). Then, the reconfigured beam array can be analyzed by a small footprint system making the large laser beam array easier to phase-lock. The discrete laser array wavefront transmitted by the meter long fiber bundle was stabilized thanks to a multiple arm servo loop. Laser array phase locking was further ensured by random scattering through a diffuser, associated to an alternating projection algorithm. Six fiber laser beams constituting a 110 mm diameter synthetic aperture, were phase-locked with λ/16 accuracy.