Spectral Channels Splicer (SCS) for Low SWaP Spectral Beam Combining Laser Systems

TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Spectral Channels Splicer (SCS) for Low SWaP Spectral Beam Combining Laser Systems

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its novel Spectral Channels Splicer (SCS) for Low SWaP Spectral Beam Combining Laser Systems technology.

Background:

The increased demand for high-power laser sources with diffraction-limited beam quality has led to significant scaling in output power of laser systems. Scaling laser beams to higher output power levels requires combining the outputs of many individual lasers through a beam combining process. One method is known as spectral beam combining where many lasers each with a unique wavelength and a corresponding input angle are combined through an optical grating. However, this method is limited by power levels of the number of lasers that can be combined due to nonlinear effects from narrow spectral channels. There is a need to be able to combine many lasers with wider spectral linewidths free from nonlinear effects.

The Diffractive Optics Group of the NIF Directorate at LLNL is the preeminent supplier of large-aperture, high damage-threshold diffraction gratings and other diffractive optics to laser institutions around the world. The Diffractive Optics Group has developed a novel compact optical assembly, the Spectral Channels Splicer (SCS), that enables the combining of adjacent spectral channels of arbitrary spectral widths. Presently, the LLNL group is the only supplier of these precision grating optics.

Description:

A Spectral Channels Splicer (SCS) system that can effectively combine diffraction-limited beams of varying wavelengths into a single beam with broad gain bandwidth provides a straightforward approach to power scaling. The SCS supports combining adjacent spectral channels of arbitrary spectral width. The spectrum of adjacent channels can be increased suppressing the onset of the nonlinear impediments.

The SCS is an array of optical elements whose individual width along the output grating dispersion axis have spectral widths defining channels, replacing the narrow band SBC emitters. Each Channel Optical Element (COE) takes the place of many adjacent narrow band emitters. Each COE accommodates a wide spectrum and tilting each channel optical path separates each channel’s input optical systems. All input channel optical elements are identical. Each input channel spectrum is angularly dispersed to replace many adjacent narrow band emitters, lessening the laser hardware needed. Transmission system design minimizes optical path length and beam size since materials absorb less and are 4x more tolerant to surface distortions than mirrors. Keeping beam small in SBC helps hide angular dispersive aberrations.

Advantages: 

LLNL’s Spectral Channels Splicer (SCS) device has numerous advantages over traditional reflectance combining optical elements, such as:

1. Enables wider spectral linewidth sources not subject to nonlinear limits to be combined.
2. Enables achieving higher output powers than possible by combining the same number of narrow spectral linewidth sources.
3. Raises the threshold at which nonlinear effects limit combined output power.
4. Can be realized in a compact optical assembly.
5. Employs retroreflectors more tolerant to surface distortions than mirrors.

Potential Applications: 

Spectral beam combining of lasers or laser emitters of arbitrary spectral linewidth.

Development Status: 

LLNL has also filed for patent protection on this invention.

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Spectral Channels Splicer (SCS) technology should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1.   Company Name and address.

2.   The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.

1. A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention:  FBO 511-22/IL-13689

OR EMAIL - Bono4@llnl.gov

Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Spectral Channels Splicer (SCS) technology.