Date of Award

12-1994

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Engineering Physics

First Advisor

Won B. Roh, PhD

Abstract

A simple and practical technique is demonstrated to generate a stable, single-lobe, far-field intensity pattern from a one-dimensional, antiphased, laser diode array with gain-guided elements. The two far-field lobes of the array are combined after introducing an optical delay line into the path of one of the lobes to make the lobes mutually incoherent. The incoherent superposition of intensities produces a near-diffraction-limited, single-lobe, far-field intensity pattern containing 84% of the power, exceeding any previous (known) phase control experiments. This technique compares favorably with more elaborate schemes advanced previously using integrated phase plates, etc. The method is directly applicable to one-dimensional laser diode arrays and could be adapted for use with two-dimensional arrays as well.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GAP-ENP-94D-10

DTIC Accession Number

ADA289226

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