Systems and methods for forming a coherent optical phased array laser source from a spatially combined array of output beams is accomplished without any external measurement devices or wavefront sensors. A master oscillator laser is split into a plurality of optical beam transport and amplifier channels to produce a plurality of optical output beams that are spatially combined in an array format. The spatial phase state of the plurality of output beams is measured at the output of a spatial combiner without use of an external measurement device or sensor. The phase of the plurality of optical output beams is controlled to compensate both for aberrations induced by the optical beam transport and amplifier paths to produce a coherent and spatially phased laser beam at the output of the laser source or to produce a phased laser beam with prescribed phase state on each output beam.
An Integrated Laser Phase Compensation System (ILPCS) for end-to-end compensation of high-energy laser for propagation through turbulence with non-cooperative target. ILPCS using interferometric slaving technique and stand-alone adaptive optical systems to effect pre-compensation of phase aberrations in turbulent medium, providing pre-compensation for aberrations in a laser amplifier with a minimal number of phase correction devices is presented. ILPCS enables integration with a short pulse mode locked laser for use in Target Feature Adaptive Optics (TFAO) or with a mode locked ultra short pulse laser with carrier envelope phase stabilization for use in Broadband Coherent Adaptive Optics (BCAO).
G01J 1/20 - Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detector, e.g. by varying incidence angle
G01B 11/02 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width, or thickness
G01B 11/24 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring contours or curvatures
G01J 9/02 - Measuring optical phase differenceDetermining degree of coherenceMeasuring optical wavelength by interferometric methods
A System and Method for Joint Compensation of Turbulence-induced-aberration and Laser Source Aberrations to provide measurement and compensation of aberrations in a laser beam projected from a laser source and the aberrations induced by propagation through an optical system and through a turbulent medium to a target utilizing only a single primary phase correction device means in the projected laser beam path and a secondary phase correction device means incorporated into the wavefront sensor path while at the same time the corrections are made using strictly null-seeking feedback control loops, thus providing a robust means of compensation. Reduction of the number of phase correction device means in the projected laser beam path can reduce cost, size, weight, and power compensation of the compensation system when the projected laser beam is a high energy laser.
G01J 1/20 - Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detector, e.g. by varying incidence angle
G02B 26/06 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the phase of light
G01J 1/24 - Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detector, e.g. by varying incidence angle using a variable element in the light-path, e.g. filter, polarising means using electric radiation detectors
4.
Target feature integrated laser field conjugation system
An Integrated Laser Field Conjugation System (ILFCS) for end-to-end compensation of high-energy laser for propagation through turbulence with non-cooperative target. ILFCS using interferometric slaving technique and stand-alone adaptive optical systems to effect pre-compensation of amplitude and phase aberrations in turbulent medium, providing pre-compensation for aberrations in a laser amplifier. Performing compensation functions in low-power beam paths, increasing capability, reducing cost, reducing size compensation components for phase correction devices. Pre-compensating low-power master oscillator beam for aberrations in both high-power amplifier and turbulent propagation path-to-target with configuration enabling wavefront sensing of aberrations. Can be configured to perform phase compensation, or compensation of phase/amplitude aberrations. Capability to compensate aberrations in master oscillator beam. ILFCS enables integration with a short pulse mode locked laser for use in Target Feature Adaptive Optics (TFAO) or with a mode locked ultra short pulse laser with carrier envelope phase stabilization for use in Broadband Coherent Adaptive Optics (BCAO).
G01J 1/20 - Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detector, e.g. by varying incidence angle
5.
System and method for coherent phased array beam transmission and imaging
A Coherent Phased Array Beam Transmission and Imaging System is disclosed for end-to-end compensation of a plurality of laser beams through a turbulent medium to a non-cooperative target where the optical device used to transmit and receive laser energy is a plurality of optical transceivers (typically a telescope, but often referred to as a subaperture telescope or transceiver). The Coherent Phased Array Beam Transmission and Imaging System controls the plurality of laser beams (that originate from a single master oscillator laser and are amplified and/or transported using separate beam paths) to coherently combine the outgoing beams from each subaperture to form a single phased beam at the target. The preferred embodiment for the Coherent Phased Array Beam Transmission and Imaging System includes a method to maintain the beam hit spot on the target aim point at the full resolution of the array.
G01J 1/20 - Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter by comparison with reference light or electric value intensity of the measured or reference value being varied to equalise their effects at the detector, e.g. by varying incidence angle
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