Systems and methods for multiple-beam laser arrangements with variable beam parameter product that couple radiation with altered spatial power distributions into optical fibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9739946-B2
Application number	US-201615060145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2016
Priority date	Feb 26, 2014
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

In various embodiments, a beam-parameter adjustment system and focusing system alters a spatial power distribution of a plurality of radiation beams before the beams are coupled into an optical fiber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A beam-parameter adjustment system and focusing system for receiving and altering a spatial distribution of a plurality of radiation beams from a plurality of beam sources and focusing the radiation with the altered spatial distribution onto an end face of an optical fiber, the system comprising:
a deformable mirror comprising a reflective surface and a controller for altering a conformation of the reflective surface; and
focusing optics,
wherein the deformable mirror and the focusing optics are arranged such that the deformable mirror receives the radiation beams and directs them through the focusing optics onto the end face, the controller being responsive to a target radiation power distribution and configured to produce a mirror conformation causing the radiation beams to strike the end face with the target radiation power distribution.

2. A beam-parameter adjustment system and focusing system for receiving and altering a spatial power distribution of a radiation beam from a beam source and focusing the radiation with the altered spatial power distribution onto an end face of an optical fiber, the system comprising:
a gradient-index lens having a refractive index constant through an optical axis of the lens but varying in directions perpendicular to the optical axis;
means for introducing a distortion in the lens to vary a waist of a beam emerging from the lens; and
a controller for controlling the distortion-introducing means to achieve a target altered spatial power distribution on the end face.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the distortion-introducing means is at least one of a local heater, a radiation source directed into the lens, an acousto-optic modulator altering an optical property of the lens, or an electro-optic modulator altering an optical property of the lens.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface has a controllable phase error, the phase error producing the target radiation power distribution.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein (i) the optical fiber comprises a core and a cladding disposed around the core, and (ii) at least a portion of the radiation beams striking the end face is coupled into the cladding.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein (i) the optical fiber comprises a multi-core optical fiber having a plurality of core regions and a cladding disposed around at least one of the core regions, and (ii) different portions of the radiation beams striking the end face are coupled into different ones of the core regions.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the deformable mirror comprises, disposed behind the reflective surface, one or more actuators each configured to deform at least a portion of the reflective surface.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a plurality of flat reflective segments.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller and focusing optics are configured to focus at least a portion of the radiation beams to a focal point disposed at approximately the end face.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller and focusing optics are configured to focus at least a portion of the radiation beams to a focal point disposed within the optical fiber downstream of the end face.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to manipulate the deformable mirror to introduce phase error in at least a portion of the radiation beams.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to manipulate the deformable mirror to alter a focus point on the end face to which one or more of the radiation beams is focused, whereby the focus points of at least two of the radiation beams correspond to different points on the end face.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the reflective surface is substantially parabolic.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of radiation beams is a multi-wavelength beam composed of a plurality of different wavelengths.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the beam sources comprises a wavelength beam combining system comprising (i) a plurality of emitters, (ii) a dispersive element, and (iii) a partially reflecting output coupler from which at least one of the radiation beams is emitted.

16. The system of claim 2 , wherein (i) the optical fiber comprises a core and a cladding disposed around the core, and (ii) at least a portion of the radiation beam focused onto the end face is coupled into the cladding.

17. The system of claim 2 , wherein (i) the optical fiber comprises a multi-core optical fiber having a plurality of core regions and a cladding disposed around at least one of the core regions, and (ii) different portions of the radiation beam focused on the end face are coupled into different ones of the core regions.

18. The system of claim 2 , wherein the lens comprises an acousto-optic material.

19. The system of claim 2 , wherein the lens comprises an electro-optic material.

20. The system of claim 2 , wherein the radiation beam is a multi-wavelength beam composed of a plurality of different wavelengths.

21. The system of claim 2 , wherein the beam source comprises a wavelength beam combining system comprising (i) a plurality of emitters, (ii) a dispersive element, and (iii) a partially reflecting output coupler from which the radiation beam is emitted.

22. The system of claim 2 , wherein the gradient-index lens is abutted to the end face.

Assignees

• Chann Bien
• Tayebati Parviz
• Huang Robin
• Lochman Bryan
• Zhou Wang-Long
• Villarreal-Saucedo Francisco J
• Zambuto James
• Teradiode Inc

Inventors

• Chann Bien
• Tayebati Parviz
• Huang Robin
• Lochman Bryan
• Zhou Wang-Long
• Villarreal-Saucedo Francisco J
• Zambuto James

Classifications

• G02B6/2848

  having refractive means, e.g. imaging elements between light guides as splitting, branching and/or combining devices, e.g. lenses, holograms · CPC title

• G02B6/2817 Primary

  using reflective elements to split or combine optical signals · CPC title

• G02B6/32

  having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)} · CPC title

• G02B6/4296

  coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources · CPC title

• G02B6/262

  Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements · CPC title