Laser system with phase-conjugator-enhanced output

Abstract

A laser system includes a linear array of broad area lasers. Such a laser source produces a beam that has a polarization axis in the direction in which the array extends and a coherency axis orthogonal to that. The laser is injection locked by phase conjugating a portion of the array's light output. The phase conjugator has a conjugation axis. The coherency axis is aligned with this conjugation axis. External cavity optics include a polarization rotator to align the polarization axis with the coherency axis before the beam reaches the phase conjugator. Thus, the polarization, coherency, and conjugation axes are all aligned, optimizing the action of the phase conjugator. The approach works in both a single-beam and a dual-beam phase conjugation mode. The result is a laser system output of higher intensity, greater coherence, and a narrower frequency range.

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