Two-dimensional multi-beam stabilizer and combining systems and methods
In accordance with various embodiments, a multi-wavelength beam output is formed by stabilizing beams each to a unique wavelength with a stabilizing dispersive element, which reflects a portion of the beam back to its emitter to stabilize the beam and transmits the stabilized beam. The stabilized beams are then transmitted to a combining dispersive element that combines the stabilized beams into the multi-wavelength beam output.
1. A method of forming a multi-wavelength beam output, the method comprising:
stabilizing beams emitted by a plurality of emitters each to a unique wavelength by introducing each beam to a stabilizing dispersive element that (i) reflects a portion of the beam back to its emitter to stabilize the beam and (ii) transmits the stabilized beam; and
transmitting the stabilized beams to a combining dispersive element, the combining dispersive element combining the stabilized beams into the multi-wavelength beam output.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, for each emitted beam, the stabilizing dispersive element comprises a grating, a chirped grating, a surface grating, a volume grating, a transmission grating, or a prism.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein, for each emitted beam, the stabilizing dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the combining dispersive element comprises a grating, a chirped grating, a surface grating, a volume grating, a transmission grating, or a prism.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the combining dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the beam emitters comprises a diode laser.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising collimating each beam after emission thereof by its beam emitter.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the stabilized beams to the combining dispersive element comprises converging the stabilized beams toward the combining dispersive element.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multi-wavelength beam output is transmitted away from the beam emitters.
10. A system for forming a multi-wavelength beam output, the system comprising:
a wavelength stabilizer comprising a plurality of beam emitters each emitting a beam, wherein within the wavelength stabilizer each beam is stabilized to a unique wavelength via introduction to a stabilizing dispersive element that (i) reflects a portion of the beam back to its emitter to stabilize the beam and (ii) transmits the stabilized beam; and
a wavelength combiner comprising a combining dispersive element configured to receive the stabilized beams from the wavelength stabilizer and combine the stabilized beams into the multi-wavelength beam output.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein, for each emitted beam, the stabilizing dispersive element comprises a grating, a chirped grating, a surface grating, a volume grating, a transmission grating, or a prism.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein, for each emitted beam, the stabilizing dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the combining dispersive element comprises a grating, a chirped grating, a surface grating, a volume grating, a transmission grating, or a prism.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the combining dispersive element comprises a diffraction grating.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein each of the beam emitters comprises a diode laser.
16. The system of claim 10 , further comprising, within the wavelength stabilizer, collimation optics for collimation of each beam after emission thereof by its beam emitter.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the combining dispersive element is positioned to transmit the multi-wavelength beam output away from the beam emitters.
18. The system of claim 10 , further comprising focusing optics within the wavelength combiner.