High-power coherent arrays of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers
AssigneeOpticomp Corporation
InventorsPeter Guilfoyle, Gary S. Evans, Cheng C. Ko
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Abstract
A high-power coherent array of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitter Lasers is described in which a plurality of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are provided along with a structure which optically couples each of the VCSELs the plurality of VCSELs to one another by a predetermined amount to cause a coherent mode locking condition to occur. The coupling structure can be a beam cube, a plurality of smaller bean cubes, or a waveguide/grating system, for example. A reference source, or controlled coupling among the VCSELs, is used to phase lock the VCSELs to one another.
Claims25
A coherent optical source comprising:
- a plurality of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs);
- and
- a beam splitting structure which optically couples emissions of the plurality of VCSELs between the plurality of VCSELs to cause a coherent mode locking condition to occur in the plurality of VCSELs.
A coherent optical source comprising:
- a plurality of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs);
- and
- a beam cube to couple a reference beam to the plurality of VCSELs and which optically couples emissions of the plurality of VCSELs between the plurality of VCSELs to cause a coherent mode locking condition to occur in the plurality of VCSELs.
A coherent optical source comprising:
- a plurality of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs);
- and
- a waveguide which optically couples emissions of the plurality of VCSELs between the plurality of VCSELs by a predetermined amount of coupling strength sufficient to cause a coherent mode locking condition to occur in the plurality of VCSELs.
A coherent optical source comprising
- a reference source of light;
- a plurality of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs);
- and
- a beam cube positioned to couple light from the reference source into the plurality of VCSELs with a vertically dependent phase and to provide a predetermined amount of coupling strength between the plurality of VCSELs sufficient to cause a coherent mode locking condition to occur.
A coherent optical source comprising:
- a plurality of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs);
- and
- a plurality of beam cubes, each of which is associated with a different one of the plurality of VCSELs, which optically couple emissions of the plurality of VCSELs between the plurality of VCSELs to cause a coherent mode locking condition to occur in the plurality of VCSELs.
A coherent optical source comprising
- a plurality of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs);
- and
- a waveguide, having a surface grating, positioned to provide a predetermined amount of coupling strength between the plurality of VCSELs sufficient to cause a coherent mode locking condition to occur.
A coherent optical source comprising:
- a plurality of VCSELs;
- and
- a waveguide, having a plurality of gratings, which optically couples emissions of the plurality of VCSELs between the plurality of VCSELs to cause a coherent mode locking condition to occur in the plurality of VCSELs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.