Fiber optic coupling is exploited to increase reliability without excessive complexity

摘要

In contrast, the present scheme affords optical isolation of the pump lasers from each other, is amenable to addition or removal of pump lasers, and involves relatively simple optics. The output ends of the fibers of multiple independent fiber-coupled laser diodes are bundled together in a ferrule. A gradient-index-of-refraction (GRIN) lens in the ferrule combines the multiple pump beams into a single beam aimed into the Nd:YAG crystal. The failure of one laser diode does not affect the operation of the others, and the light from the others continues to pump the Nd:YAG crystal.