High power parallel fiber arrays

摘要

High power parallel fiber arrays for the amplification of high peak power pulses are described. Fiber arrays based on individual fiber amplifiers as well as fiber arrays based on multi-core fibers can be implemented. The optical phase between the individual fiber amplifier elements of the fiber array is measured and controlled using a variety of phase detection and compensation techniques. High power fiber array amplifiers can be used for EUV and X-ray generation as well as pumping of parametric amplifiers.

主权项

1. A high peak power fiber amplifier system, comprising:
an array of fiber amplifiers in a multicore fiber, a spatial separation of the cores of said amplifiers being sufficiently small to provide strong thermal coupling therebetween which limits output phase fluctuations of the array to less than about 10 kHz, and sufficiently large to substantially limit optical mode coupling between amplifiers of the array, wherein said multicore fiber comprises a plurality of leakage channel fibers having leakage channels disposed between the cores of said amplifiers, wherein said leakage channel fibers are filled with air or a glass having a reduced refractive index; a plurality of phase-control elements arranged in a spatial relation and optically connected to fiber amplifiers of said array, said elements modifying an optical phase of at least one fiber amplifier output in response to a phase control signal; and a phase controller generating said phase control signal, wherein said phase control signal and said phase control elements stabilize the optical output phase of the majority of said individual fiber amplifiers.