Coherent beam combining using phase-controlled stimulated brillouin scattering phase conjugate mirror

Abstract

This chapter introduces a high-energy, high-power coherent beam combining system using stimulated Brillouin scattering phase conjugate mirrors (SBS-PCMs). To obtain coherent output of the combined beam, the authors propose a phase control method for the SBS wave, referred to here as selfdensity modulation, and present successful experimental demonstrations. The principle of the self-phase control method is tested experimentally for the wavefront and the amplitude division schemes. Several theoretical and experimental investigations have reported on the use of a broadband pump in SBS reflectivity. The chapter discusses a theoretical model of the phase controlling of the SBS wave. It experimentally demonstrates active control of the long-term phase fluctuation. In addition, the chapter also demonstrates a coherent four-beam combining laser system. © 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. All rights reserved.