Coherent Fiber-Laser Array in Self-Fourier Cavity

The proposed project will demonstrate the feasibility of phase-locking hexagonal arrays of high power fiber lasers. Fiber lasers offer many advantages over conventional lasers including high brightness, increased modal control, and high surface areas for heat dissipation. We will take advantage of these properties to demonstrate and optimize the operation of a high power coherent fiber laser array. The hexagonal array geometry can provide a convenient, compact natural arrangement of the fibers, which can reproduce itself upon Fourier transformation. In the proposed Phase I effort, the optical design of a hexagonal fiber laser array in a Self-Fourier cavity will be generated and a modal analysis of this array will be performed to optimize the mode match between the individual fiber lasers and the passive Self-Fourier cavity. Based on this analysis, a passive fiber array will be designed and manufactured in the chosen configuration, the array will be tested for appropriate performance characteristics, and the mode shaping will be determined using a single independent laser to experimentally measure the coupling matrix. As a result of the tasks performed during this Phase I project, a complete laser design will be ready for fabrication and demonstration during the Phase II project.