Method and system for multi-wavelength laser system
A multi-wavelength laser system includes a first fiber laser having a first cavity mirror and a first output coupler, a first optical coupler configured to receive light from the first output coupler, a second fiber laser having a second cavity mirror and a second output coupler, and a second optical coupler configured to receive light from the second output coupler. The multi-wavelength laser system also includes a spectral beam combiner configured to receive first output light from the first optical coupler, receive second output light from the second optical coupler, combine the first output light and the second output light, and form a multi-wavelength output beam.
1. A multi-wavelength laser system comprising:
a first fiber laser having a first cavity mirror enclosed in a first thermo-mechanical housing and a first output coupler, wherein:
a first longitudinal mode spacing associated with the first fiber laser is on the order of 50 MHz and a first SBS spectral response associated with the first fiber laser is on the order of 20 MHz; and
the first cavity mirror and the first output coupler are characterized by a first reflection bandwidth on the order of 10 GHz, thereby supporting approximately 200 longitudinal modes;
a first optical coupler connected to the first output coupler;
a second fiber laser having a second cavity mirror enclosed in a second thermo-mechanical housing and a second output coupler, wherein:
a second longitudinal mode spacing associated with the second fiber laser is on the order of 50 MHz and a second SBS spectral response associated with the second fiber laser is on the order of 20 MHz; and
the second cavity mirror and the second output coupler are characterized by a second reflection bandwidth on the order of 10 GHz, thereby supporting 200 longitudinal modes;
a second optical coupler connected to the second output coupler; and
a spectral beam combiner configured to:
receive first output light from the first optical coupler;
receive second output light from the second optical coupler;
combine the first output light and the second output light; and
form a multi-wavelength output beam.
2. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 1 wherein no gain is present between:
the first output coupler and the spectral beam combiner; and
the second output coupler and the spectral beam combiner.
3. A multi-wavelength laser system comprising:
a first fiber laser having a first cavity mirror enclosed in a first thermo-mechanical housing and a first output coupler, wherein the first fiber laser is characterized by a first lasing bandwidth greater than a first SBS spectral response width;
a first optical coupler configured to receive light from the first output coupler;
a second fiber laser having a second cavity mirror enclosed in a second thermo-mechanical housing and a second output coupler, wherein the second fiber laser is characterized by a second lasing bandwidth greater than a second SBS spectral response width;
a second optical coupler configured to receive light from the second output coupler; and
a spectral beam combiner configured to:
receive first output light from the first optical coupler;
receive second output light from the second optical coupler;
combine the first output light and the second output light; and
form a multi-wavelength output beam.
4. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 3 wherein the first fiber laser and the second fiber laser are characterized by a bandwidth of less than or equal to 20 GHz.
5. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 3 wherein the first output coupler is characterized by a bandwidth of less than or equal to 20 GHz and the first cavity mirror is characterized by a bandwidth between 20 GHz and 200 GHz.
6. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 3 wherein the first cavity mirror is characterized by a bandwidth of less than or equal to 20 GHz and the first output coupler is characterized by a bandwidth between 20 GHz and 200 GHz.
7. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 3 wherein:
the first cavity mirror is characterized by a first bandwidth centered at a first center frequency; and
the first output coupler is characterized by a second bandwidth centered at a second center frequency, wherein an overlap between the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth is less than 20 GHz.
8. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 3 wherein:
the first output coupler is enclosed in a third thermo-mechanical housing; and
the second output coupler is enclosed in a fourth thermo-mechanical housing.
9. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 3 wherein:
the first output light and the second output light are each characterized by greater than 50 longitudinal modes.
10. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 3 wherein:
the first optical coupler is connected to the first output coupler; and
the second optical coupler is connected to the second output coupler.
11. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 3 wherein no gain is present between:
the first output coupler and the spectral beam combiner; and
the second output coupler and the spectral beam combiner.
12. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 3 wherein the first fiber laser is characterized by a first SBS spectral response width and a longitudinal mode spacing greater than the first SBS spectral response width.
13. A multi-wavelength laser system comprising:
a first fiber laser having a first cavity mirror enclosed in a first thermo-mechanical housing and a first output coupler;
a first optical coupler configured to receive light from the first output coupler;
a second fiber laser having a second cavity mirror enclosed in a second thermo-mechanical housing and a second output coupler;
a second optical coupler configured to receive light from the second output coupler; and
a spectral beam combiner configured to:
receive first output light from the first optical coupler, wherein the first output light comprises greater than 10 longitudinal modes;
receive second output light from the second optical coupler;
combine the first output light and the second output light; and
form a multi-wavelength output beam.
14. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 13 wherein the first output light comprises between 100 and 300 longitudinal modes.
15. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 14 wherein the first output light comprises approximately 200 longitudinal modes.
16. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 13 wherein the first fiber laser and the second fiber laser are characterized by a bandwidth of less than or equal to 20 GHz.
17. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 13 wherein the first output coupler is characterized by a bandwidth of less than or equal to 20 GHz and the first cavity mirror is characterized by a bandwidth between 20 GHz and 200 GHz.
18. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 13 wherein the first cavity mirror is characterized by a bandwidth of less than or equal to 20 GHz and the first output coupler is characterized by a bandwidth between 20 GHz and 200 GHz.
19. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 13 wherein:
the first cavity mirror is characterized by a first bandwidth centered at a first center frequency; and
the first output coupler is characterized by a second bandwidth centered at a second center frequency, wherein an overlap between the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth is less than 20 GHz.
20. The multi-wavelength laser system of claim 13 wherein:
the first output coupler is enclosed in a third thermo-mechanical housing; and
the second output coupler is enclosed in a fourth thermo-mechanical housing.