Master oscillator with power amplifiers: performance of a two-element cw HF phased laser array

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Applied Optics; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.28.004543· OSTI ID:5295218

Bernard, J M; Chodzko, R A; Coffer, J G ^[1]

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1. Aerophysics Laboratory, Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 92957, Los Angeles, California 90009-2957 (US)

The experimental performance of a two-element phased array of multiline cw HF chemical lasers in the master oscillator with power amplifiers (MOPA) configuration has been measured. The mutual coherence of the two amplified beams was inferred from measurements of the visibility of interference fringes obtained when the beams were overlapped in the near field. When the optical path difference for the two beams was minimized, multiline visibilities of 0.90{plus minus}0.2 were measured. White light interferometry was used to equalize the optical path lengths. Spectral mismatch between the master oscillator output and the amplifier's preferred gain distribution affected neither the amplification factor nor the mutual coherence of the amplified beams. The effect of spatial coherence of the master oscillator beam on these near field measurements and the eventual requirement of far field measurements to precisely optimize path lengths are discussed. Spectra data, amplification factor, and mutual coherence measurements are shown, and the resulting phased array far field performance is presented.

• OSTI ID: 5295218
• Journal Information: Applied Optics; (USA), Journal Name: Applied Optics; (USA) Vol. 28:21; ISSN 0003-6935; ISSN APOPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
426002* -- Engineering-- Lasers & Masers-- (1990-)
AMPLIFIERS
CHEMICAL LASERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
LASERS
LIGHT SOURCES
PERFORMANCE
POWER AMPLIFIERS
RADIATION SOURCES