Patent ID: 8798104
Filing Date: 2014-08-05
Classification: B41C,B41M,H01S

Abstract:
1. A laser apparatus comprising: first and second seed lasers each emitting an output beam differing in at least one beam characteristic, wherein the first and second seed lasers are (i) both fiber lasers, (ii) operated in a complementary fashion, and (iii) modulated in accordance with a substantially random frequency; a coupler for combining the output beams of the seed lasers into a combined beam, the combined beam having a substantially constant power as a function of time; a first isolator, disposed between the first seed laser and the coupler, positioned to receive the output beam of the first seed laser; a second isolator, different from the first isolator, disposed between the second seed laser and the coupler, positioned to receive the output beam of the second seed laser; at least one amplifier for increasing a power of the combined beam, thereby forming an amplified beam; a resonant phase modulator disposed between the coupler and the at least one amplifier, the resonant phase modulator broadening an optical spectrum of the combined beam prior to amplification thereof; a third isolator, different from the first and second isolators, disposed between the coupler and the at least one amplifier, positioned to receive the combined beam; and a separator for separating the amplified beam into first and second final output beams based on the at least one beam characteristic, the second final output beam being absorbed by the separator or discarded after separation, wherein (i) the first and second seed lasers, the coupler, the at least one amplifier, the separator, the resonant phase modulator, and the first, second, and third isolators are all fiber-coupled, and (ii) a line width of the at least one amplifier is less than a line width of the combined beam, whereby Brilliouin scattering is suppressed in the at least one amplifier due at least in part to the spectral broadening by the resonant phase modulator.