We present design, simulation and benchtop demonstration of a beam combining system for use in coherently combined fiber arrays with >1kW per channel. A beam combiner assembly using laser-smoothed, monolithic freeform beam shaping and phase correction optics is designed and manufactured to meet the low-SWaP and high efficiency targets set for deployable LDEW systems. We report on achievable power-in-the bucket in coherently combined system, perchannel power handling capability and scalability to a larger number of channels.
The goal of deploying a high-power laser directed energy effector on a mobile platform creates several challenges beyond the primary requirement of high laser power. The pump sources and beam conditioning optics that are used in industrial lasers do not provide the low volume and mass required for deployment on a mobile platform. Similarly, use of conventional discrete spherical and aspherical optical elements does not provide the level of beam control and efficiency required to achieve the necessary on-target power and spot size. We describe how freeform optics are used to realize pump sources and beam combining systems with the high levels of optical performance and efficiency, coupled with low mass and volume, required to meet the low-SWaP targets set for deployable LDEW systems.
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