| 摘要 |
A relatively high average power fiber laser system with phase control. T he laser system includes a phased array of parallel fiber amplifiers coupled to a common master oscillator. An important aspect of the invention relates to the independentl y adjustable optical phase modulators for each of the fiber amplifiers. Various methods f or phase modulation are contemplated, such as fast spatial light modulators (SLM) as well as in-line fiber phase modulators. Both types of phase modulation utilize a wavefront sensor for deriving feedback signals for phase control. Arbitrary phase profile information can be applied to the phase modulators to synthesize a desired output beam. Thus, t he phase controlled fiber amplifier array functions as a synthetic aperture transmitt er at optical frequencies. When combined with a beacon phase front sensor for atmospheric beam propagation, the phase modulator can encode phase conjugate information to compensate for atmospheric aberrations. Relative to other high power laser systems, the las er system in accordance with the present invention has lower power supply demand and cooling requirements which results in lower weight, volume and cost. The use of the fiber laser system in accordance with the present invention also permits greater flexibility in packaging withfewer discrete optics and a relatively simpler optical system design and well as being amenable to mass production.
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