Method for assembling a hollow core optical fiber array launcher

A method for assembling a beam combiner array, said method comprising:

• providing an array block including a back wall having a thickness and a front surface, said array block including a plurality of aligned channels extending from the back wall to the front surface, wherein a bore extends through the back wall and into each channel;
• providing a lens array including a plurality of lenses;
• providing a plurality of fiber flanges;
• securing the lens array to the front surface of the block so that one of the lenses is aligned with each channel;
• threading a separate hollow core fiber through a bore in each fiber flange;
• cleaving an end of each fiber after the fiber is threaded through the bore in the flange;
• threading each fiber through one of the bores in the back wall so that an end of the fiber is positioned within the channel;
• aligning each fiber to the lens array in an x-y-z direction;
• and
• securing the fiber to the fiber flange and the fiber flange to the back wall after aligning each fiber to the lens array.

A method for assembling a beam combiner array, said method comprising:

• providing an array block including a back wall having a thickness and a front surface, said array block including a plurality of aligned channels extending from the back wall to the front surface, wherein a bore extends through the back wall and into each channel;
• providing a lens array including a plurality of lenses;
• securing the lens array to the front surface of the block so that one of the lenses is aligned with each channel;
• threading a separate hollow core fiber through one of the bores in the back wall so that an end of the fiber is positioned within the channel;
• and
• aligning each fiber to the lens array in an x-y-z direction so that a beam that propagates down the fiber is emitted into the channel, focused by the lens and emitted from the array as a collimated beam, wherein aligning each fiber to the lens array includes using laser beam diagnostics equipment.