On the Stability of Spatially Distributed Cavity Laser and Boundary of Resonant Beam SLIPT

TL;DR

This paper investigates the stability constraints of spatially distributed cavity lasers for long-range wireless power and data transfer, providing theoretical analysis, simulation methods, and experimental validation to extend transmission distances.

Contribution

It introduces new algorithms to quantify cavity tolerances, proves the feasibility of long-range beam formation with adjustable elements, and offers practical guidelines for stable SDC system design.

Findings

Stable region shrinks with distance, limiting transmission to under 2 m with fixed components.

Precision tuning during assembly can extend transmission distance to 2.8 m.

Theoretical and experimental results confirm the importance of cavity stability for long-range SLIPT.

Abstract

Spatially distributed cavity (SDC) lasers are a promising technology for simultaneous light information and power transfer (SLIPT), offering benefits such as increased mobility and intrinsic safety, which are advantageous for various Internet of Things (IoT) devices. \mll However, achieving beam transmission over meter-level long working distances presents significant challenges from cavity stability constraints, manufacturing/assembly tolerances, and diffraction losses\mrr. This paper conducts a theoretical investigation of the fundamental restrictions limiting long-range resonant beam generation. We investigate cavity stability and beam characteristics, and propose a binary-search-based Monte Carlo simulation algorithm as well as a linear approximation algorithm to quantify the maximum acceptable tolerances for stable operation. \mll Numerical results indicate that the stable region contracts sharply as distance increases. For fixed-component systems, an acceptable tolerance of 0.01 mm restricts the achievable transmission distance to less than 2 m. \mrr To address this limitation, we also prove the feasibility of long-range beam formation using precision adjustable elements, paving the way for advanced engineering applications. \mll Experimental results verified this assumption, demonstrating that by tuning the stable region during assembly, the transmission distance could be extended to 2.8 m. \mrr This work provides essential theoretical insights and practical design guidelines for realizing stable, long-range SDC systems.