Multi-aperture laser system

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical system with a dividing element (2), which divides the input laser beam (EL) into a number of spatially separate sub-beams, at least one optical amplifier (4), through which the spatially separate sub-beams propagate, at least one path-length adjustment element (3), which adjusts the path length of at least one of the sub-beams, and a combination element (6, 8), which coherently superimposes the sub-beams in an output laser beam. The object of the invention is to achieve a high beam quality in the output laser beam, wherein the demands on the surface quality of the optical components used are to be reduced compared with the prior art. To this end the invention proposes that at least one optical functional element (5, 5′, 6′, 7) from the group of transport element, spectral broadening element, beam deflection element, optical isolator, optical modulator and pulse compressor is provided arranged after the at least one optical amplifier (4) in the beam path, through which functional element the spatially separate sub-beams propagate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.