Patent ID: 6665471
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A system for combining a plurality of output beams, comprising:an array of optical gain elements, each of said optical gain elements of said array possessing a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface which define resonant wavelengths, and each of said optical gain elements of said array producing an output beam; and an external cavity, for providing feedback to said array of optical gain elements, that includes: an optical wavelength multiplexing element operable to multiplex output beams from said optical gain elements of said array as a multi-wavelength beam; and a partial reflector operable to reflect a portion of said multi-wavelength beam as a reflected portion, wherein said optical wavelength multiplexing element is operable to demultiplex said reflected portion to provide feedback beams to each of said optical gain elements of said array such that each of said optical gain elements receives a spectrally unique feedback beam; each of said feedback beams possessing at least one wavelength component that substantially coincides with a resonant wavelength of said resonant wavelengths; wherein each feedback beam possesses a bandwidth, wherein said resonant wavelengths define a free spectral range, and wherein the bandwidth of each feedback beam is at least as great as said free spectral range.