Phase-locking of lasers with Gaussian coupling

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel intra-cavity Gaussian aperture method enabling steady in-phase locking of laser arrays with various geometries, enhancing beam quality and power density, and potentially improving laser-based computational tools.

Contribution

The paper presents a new Gaussian aperture technique for achieving phase-locking in laser arrays regardless of their configuration, overcoming previous limitations.

Findings

Achieved in-phase locking of 90 lasers with high power density.

Demonstrated robustness across different array geometries.

Produced high-quality Gaussian mode laser outputs.

Abstract

A unique approach for steady in-phase locking of lasers in an array, regardless of the array geometry, position, orientation, period or size, is presented. The approach relies on the insertion of an intra-cavity Gaussian aperture in the far-field plane of the laser array. Steady in-phase locking of $90$ lasers, whose far-field patterns are comprised of sharp spots with extremely high power density, was obtained for various array geometries, even in the presence of near-degenerate solutions, geometric frustration or superimposed independent longitudinal modes. The internal phase structures of the lasers can also be suppressed so as to obtain pure Gaussian mode laser outputs with uniform phase and overall high beam quality. The approach could potentially improve the performances of recently developed laser simulators that are used for solving various computational problems.