Stabilization of High-Power WBC Systems

1 . A stabilized wavelength beam combiner comprising:

a plurality of emitters each producing a beam;

a collecting optic configured to receive and deliver the beams onto a dispersive element, wherein the dispersive element transmits the beams as a combined beam profile;

a partially-reflecting output coupler arranged to receive the combined beams from the dispersive element, to reflect a portion of the combined beams toward the dispersive element, and to transmit the combined beams as a multi-wavelength beam comprising optical radiation having a plurality of wavelengths; and

at least two retro reflectors disposed along the optical path of the beams between the emitters and the partially reflective output coupler.

2 . The stabilized wavelength beam combiner of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the beam emitters have a fixed-position relationship.

3 . The stabilized wavelength beam combiner of claim 1 , wherein the beam emitters include a first reflective surface and an optical gain medium.

4 . The stabilized wavelength beam combiner of claim 1 , further including a collimation optic configured to receive beams from the beam emitters and collimate one or more beams along a dimension of the beam.

5 . The stabilized wavelength beam combiner of claim 1 , wherein the emitted beams have an asymmetrical profile.

6 . The stabilized wavelength beam combiner of claim 1 , wherein the partially reflective output coupler is the only non-retro reflector in the system.

7 . The retro reflectors of claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface is curved.

8 . The retro reflectors of claim 1 , wherein the angle between reflective surfaces is less than 90 degrees.

9 . The retro reflectors of claim 1 , wherein the retro reflector is a prism.

10 . A stabilized wavelength beam combiner comprising:

a plurality of emitters each producing a beam;

a collecting optic configured to receive and deliver the beams onto a dispersive element, wherein the dispersive element transmits the beams as a combined beam profile;

a polarized beam splitter configured to receive and transmit the combined beams;

a quarter wave plate positioned to receive the combined beams from the beam splitter;

a retro reflector configured to receive and redirect the combined beams from the quarter wave plate back to the quarter wave plate; and

a partially-reflecting output coupler arranged to receive the combined beams from the dispersive element, to reflect a portion of the combined beams toward the dispersive element, and to transmit the combined beams as a multi-wavelength beam comprising optical radiation having a plurality of wavelengths.

11 . The stabilized wavelength beam combiner of claim 10 , further including; at least additional two retro reflectors disposed along the optical path of the beams between the emitters and the partially reflective output coupler.

12 . A wavelength beam combining method including:

selectively rotating electromagnetic beams emitted by a plurality of beam emitters;

directing the selectively rotated beams onto a dispersive element;

transmitting a combined beam profile from the dispersive element;

redirecting a portion of the combined beams back into the beam emitters;

transmitting the combined beams as a multi-wavelength beam comprising optical radiation having a plurality of wavelengths; and

reducing the spatial and angular offset of the output and feedback beams.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further including:

individually collimating the emitted beams along a dimension prior to selectively rotating the beams.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein at least two of the beam emitters have a fixed-position relationship.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a post resonator comprised of

a polarization multiplexer,

optical reconfiguration element,

anamorphic element, and

fiber-optic module receives the multi-wavelength beam comprising optical radiation having a plurality of wavelengths.

16 . A stabilized multi-wavelength laser system comprising:

a wavelength beam combining resonator comprised of:

a plurality of emitters each producing a beam,

a collecting optic configured to receive and deliver the beams onto a dispersive element, wherein the dispersive element transmits the beams as a combined beam profile,

a polarized beam splitter configured to receive and transmit the combined beams,

a quarter wave plate positioned to receive the combined beams from the beam splitter,

a retro reflector configured to receive and redirect the combined beams from the quarter wave plate back to the quarter wave plate, and

a partially-reflecting output coupler arranged to receive the combined beams from the dispersive element, to reflect a portion of the combined beams toward the dispersive element, and to transmit the combined beams as a multi-wavelength beam comprising optical radiation having a plurality of wavelengths; and

a post resonator including:

a polarization multiplexer,

optical reconfiguration element,

anamorphic element, and

fiber-optic module.