Physical model and analysis of spectral beam combining system with dual-grating external cavity

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Laser Physics

Background:

• Spectral beam combining (SBC) enhances laser power and beam quality.
• Crosstalk from laser "smile" and spectral dispersion limits dense SBC performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a physical model for SBC with a dual-grating external cavity.
• To investigate spectral dispersion mitigation and analyze grating parameter influence on SBC.

Main Methods:

• Development of a physical model for dual-grating SBC.
• In-depth analysis of spectral dispersion mitigation using the model.
• Investigation of grating parameters and alignment effects on beam quality and spectra.

Main Results:

• The physical model quantifies spectral dispersion mitigation in dual-grating SBC.
• Grating parameters and alignment significantly impact combined beam spectra and quality.
• The model provides insights into optimizing dense SBC systems.

Conclusions:

• The presented physical model enables effective spectral dispersion management in dual-grating SBC.
• This work facilitates the advancement of high-power, high-beam-quality laser systems.
• The model offers guidance for optimizing SBC systems with increased laser numbers.