US3825845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Parallel optical stage laser systems
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1973-02-14
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1993-02-14
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are laser amplifier systems for producing unlimited amounts of laser power having controllable frequencies and good optical qualities. A source of controllable frequency coherent energy is directed through a plurality of parallel optical channels, each of which contains laser power amplification means. The outputs from the parallel channels are combined spatially parallel to form a system component laser output having an aligned phase front. A sample beam is taken from each amplification channel and is processed with a phase sensitive optical detector to produce suitable error signals which are used to vary the optical pathlengths of the system necessary to align the phase fronts. In addition, an autoalignment or a phase measurement technique maintains the spatial parallelism in the output.
Inventors
- 👤 A Angelbeck
- 👤 G Wisner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383; H01S3/2308
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A laser system comprising: means for providing controllable frequency laser energy; means for amplifying the power of the laser energy in optically parallel amplification channels; means for combining the individual laser beams from each amplification channel into a system output beam which comprises the individual laser beams combined adjacent to one another; means for extracting a sample beam from each of the individual beams; means for determining the phase relationship of the laser energy at a given frequency and the direction of propagation of the individual beams from the sample beams; and means for adjusting the phase relationship between the individual beams and the direction of propagation of the individual laser beams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A laser system comprising: means for providing controllable frequency laser energy; means for amplifying the power of the laser energy in optically parallel amplification channels; means for combining the individual laser beams from each amplification channel into a system output beam which comprises the individual laser beams combined adjacent to one another; means for extracting a sample beam from each of the individual beams; means for determining the phase relationship of the laser energy at a given frequency and the direction of propagation of the individual beams from the sample beams; and means for adjusting the phase relationship between the individual beams and the direction of propagation of the individual laser beams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the controllable frequency laser energy comprises a plurality of sources which are frequency locked.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 1 including means for dividing the controllable frequency laser energy into a plurality of controllable frequency laser energy sources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 3 including means for splitting one of the plurality of controllable frequency laser energy sources into additional controllable frequency sources.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the controllable frequency laser energy source comprises laser energy having a plurality of distinct frequencies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention according to claim 5 including additionally: separation means for dispersing the controllable frequency laser energy source into individual optical paths each of which corresponds to one of the distinct frequencies of the laser energy; and recombination means for recombining the laser energy at each frequency coming from each optical path into a single recombined beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the extraction means comprises a grating that provides a low power sample which is a replica of the higher power system output beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
155 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein the means for determining the phase relationship in the direction of propagation of the individual beams includes: an optical scanner which is capable of providing a raster scan of the spatial phase front of the low power beam sample; means for optically heterodyning the reference beam and the sample beams; optical detectors for sensing the interference pattern produced by the heterodyning, the detectors producing corresponding first electrical signals; electronic amplifiers for enhancing the intensity of the first electrical signals; limiters for limiting the enhanced first electrical signals; a phase detector for comparing the output from two such limiters and providing a second electrical signal; electrical circuitry for recording phase excursions greater than one hundred and eighty degrees which occur in the enhanced first electrical signals; means for processing the second electrical signal to generate control signals for alignment and phase adjustment; and means for enhancing the control signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention according to claim 6 wherein the means for adjusting the phase relationship and the direction of propagation of the individual laser beams comprises movable mirrors located in the individual optical paths between the separation means and the recombining means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
A laser system comprising: means for providing controllable frequency laser radiation; amplification means for increasing the power of the laser radiation in a plurality of amplifier channels which are optically parallel to each other; means for combining the individual laser beams from each amplification channel into a system output beam which comprises the individual laser beams combined adjacent to one another; means for extracting a sample from each of thE individual beams; means for determining the relative phase at a given frequency of the laser energy in the individual beam samples; means for adjusting the phase relationship between the individual beams; means for determining the relative direction of propagation of the individual beam samples; and means for adjusting the direction of propagation of the individual laser beams.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
127 words
A laser system comprising: means for providing controllable frequency laser radiation; amplification means for increasing the power of the laser radiation in a plurality of amplifier channels which are optically parallel to each other; means for combining the individual laser beams from each amplification channel into a system output beam which comprises the individual laser beams combined adjacent to one another; means for extracting a sample from each of thE individual beams; means for determining the relative phase at a given frequency of the laser energy in the individual beam samples; means for adjusting the phase relationship between the individual beams; means for determining the relative direction of propagation of the individual beam samples; and means for adjusting the direction of propagation of the individual laser beams.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention according to claim 10 wherein the means for extracting a sample from each individual beam is an aperture in a fixed mirror positioned in the path of the system output beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
The invention according to claim 10 wherein the means for determining the relative phase of the laser energy at a given frequency in a sample beam comprises: means for providing a controllable frequency reference beam of laser radiation; means for optically heterodyning the frequency beam and the same beam; optical detectors for sensing the interference pattern due to the heterodyning, the detectors producing corresponding electrical signals; electronic amplifiers for enhancing the intensity of the first electrical signals; limiters for limiting the enhanced electrical signals; a phase detector for comparing the output from two such limiters and providing an electrical control signal; and means for enhancing the electric control signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention according to claim 10 wherein the means for adjusting the phase relationship between the individual beams are responsive to the electrical control signal and change the pathlength for the radiation at a given frequency in one of the split beam paths.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
The invention according to claim 10 wherein the means for determining the relative direction of propagation of the individual beam samples comprises: autocollimation means which provides an alignment beam containing a reticle pattern; optical means which form an alignment beam path from the autocollimator, through each of the parallel optical channels and back to the autocollimator, the alignment beam path being essentially aligned with but separate from the individual laser beam paths; means for sequentially transmitting the alignment beam along each alignment beam path; and means responsive to signal from the autocollimator for tilting at least one mirror in each amplifier channel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |