Coherent Beam Combination (CBC) Systems and Methods

A coherent beam combination (CBC) system comprising:

• (a) an array of beam sources configured to generate a plurality of coherent beams for directing towards a target;
• (b) a plurality of adjustable phase modulators associated with said beam sources so as to allow adjustment of relative phase offsets of said beams;
• (c) a detector deployed for monitoring an intensity parameter that varies as a function of an intensity of the radiation of said coherent beams impinging on an area of the target;
• and
• (d) a controller comprising logic circuitry, said controller being associated with said detector to receive said intensity parameter and with said adjustable phase modulators to control a phase adjustment of said beams, said controller being configured to actuate said adjustable phase modulators so as to maximize said intensity parameter,
• wherein said detector is associated with a telescope arrangement for collecting radiation reflected from the target and directing the reflected radiation to the detector, said telescope arrangement comprising a wavefront sensor, a deformable mirror and an adaptive optics controller, said adaptive optics controller being associated with the wavefront sensor and operative to control the deformable mirror so as to reduce optical distortions in the reflected radiation.