| 摘要 |
An optical combiner for combining multiple synchronized, pulsed light beams is disclosed. A pair of planar mirrors are joined, facing each other, along an edge of each, to form a V-shaped assembly rotatable about an axis normal to the line of intersection of these edges, passing through the center of that line and bisecting the center of the angle formed between the two mirrors. A plurality of pulsed laser beams is impinged upon such mirror assembly as it rotates, the lasers each being pulsed at a rate equal to an even integral multiple of the rotational speed of the mirror assembly in synchronism with the rotation of the mirror assembly. The individual incident laser beams are combined by the mirror assembly and emitted as a single pulsed laser beam having a pulse repetition rate equal to the product of the number of incident beams multiplied by the pulse rate of each such beam. Conversely, the same V-shaped mirror assembly provides a distribution function for separating a single pulsed laser beam into a plurality of more slowly pulsed beams. Separate beams may simultaneously be combined and distributed when timing requirements are satisfied. Systems of multiple mirror assemblies are also shown.
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