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3. Coherent combination techniques
A second approach to summing the power emitted by several laser sources is optical interference summation. Given the coherence of most laser sources, this is often the only feasible option, since the superposition of highly coherent laser beams from identical lasers (same wavelength and polarization) inevitably leads to the creation of an interference pattern between these beams. The smooth spatial profile of the laser beam, usually Gaussian on emission, then becomes modulated by the light lobes of the interference pattern, where the resulting light intensity is strong, and the dark lobes, where the light intensity cancels out.
Two main geometric configurations are possible for the laser beams in this case (figure 8 ):
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Coherent combination techniques
Alternative techniques and secondary applications for laser combination
Bibliography
Bibliography
Events
SPIE conference – Photonics West: every year in San Francisco http://spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/photonics-west
SPIE conference – Defense and Security: held annually in the United States
Standards and norms
Laser safety standards to be applied when using lasers, whether combined or not:
- Safety of laser products – Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements - IEC 60825-1 - 2014
- AFNOR Safety of laser equipment – Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements - NF EN 60825-1 - 2014
The French AFNOR standard is an officially validated translation by AFNOR of the IEC...
Directory
Companies developing high-power combination lasers
This list is by no means exhaustive, but includes some of the main industrial players in the development of high-power laser sources incorporating combination technologies, often for military applications.
Boeing (United States) http://www.boeing.com/defense/
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