Optical detector for measuring respective phases of multiple beams apparatus and method

    公开(公告)号:US09945731B1

    公开(公告)日:2018-04-17

    申请号:US14596825

    申请日:2015-01-14

    Abstract: A system includes a source of laser beams forming an array, a source of a reference laser beam, and an optical detector for measuring respective phase differences between the array laser beams and the reference laser beam. The system includes a mask, having apertures with a shape, size and position identical to a shape, size and position of the array laser beams, and positioned in the reference laser beam to form respective beams of the reference laser beam corresponding to the beams from the array laser beams. A phase modulator phase modulates respective beams of one of (a) the array laser beams and (b) the beams of the reference laser from the mask. A photodetector receives the respective array laser beams and the corresponding reference laser beams from the mask to generate a composite signal. Processing circuitry is responsive to the composite signal for generating respective signals representing the phase differences of the individual laser beams from the reference laser beam.

    System for maintaining the locking range of an injection locked laser array within range of the frequency of a master laser

    公开(公告)号:US09941661B1

    公开(公告)日:2018-04-10

    申请号:US14596960

    申请日:2015-01-14

    CPC classification number: H01S5/0687 H01S5/005 H01S5/0071 H01S5/4006 H01S5/423

    Abstract: A system for maintaining the locking range of an injection locked laser array within range of a frequency of a master laser includes first and second photodetectors. An injection locked laser array has a locking frequency range around a free running frequency controlled in response to a control signal. The laser array produces respective beams phase modulated at relative unique frequencies. A mask, has apertures with shapes, sizes, and positions identical to the shapes, sizes and positions of the lasers in the laser array. A first master laser produces a beam at a first frequency coupled to the laser array and illuminating the mask. A second master laser produces a beam at a second frequency separated from the first frequency by substantially the locking range of the laser array coupled to the laser array and illuminating the mask. Optics forms images of the reference beams of the first and second master lasers from the mask to the first and second photodetectors respectively, and forms images of the beams from the laser array to the same locations on the first and second photodetectors as the corresponding reference beams from the mask, A frequency controller, responsive to respective composite signals from the first and second photodetectors, detects modulation harmonics corresponding to each beam from the laser array from the first and second photodetectors and produces a frequency control signal.

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