Modal Analysis of Path Length Sensitivity in Superposition Architectures for Coherent Laser Beam Combining

摘要

An analytical model is developed to describe the modal behavior of a class of coherent beam combining resonators based on laser beam superposition. This model is used to explore the interplay between modal discrimination and tolerance to gain element path length changes. Under certain conditions, the sensitivity to the random phase fluctuations of the individual gain elements can be substantially reduced.