Optical Fiber Combiner for Combining MWIR QCL Beams

IRflex proposes an optical fiber combiner structure to combine the power from seven or more quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) emitting in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) between 4.5 and 5 microns into a single output fiber. The total output power from the optical fiber combiner will exceed 80% of the sum of the emitted power of all the input QCLs, including the various losses (laser-to-fiber coupling, reflections, fiber transmission, splice, and combining efficiency). Also, the optical fiber combiner will be capable of outputting sustained average power of up to 60 Watts without damage. The Phase II effort will fabricate and deliver the cascaded fiber combiner system.  Using commercially available QCLs, we will demonstrate and measure the total transmission and power output of the optical fiber combiner.