Patent ID: 6737635
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An apparatus for combining light comprising:at least one beam combining unit provided as a double-refracting optical element; at least a first laser source emitting a first light beam having a first polarization direction and a second laser source emitting a second light beam having a second polarization direction, the first and the second light beams having approximately the same wavelength; and the first polarization direction conforming to that of an extraordinary beam of the beam combining unit and the second polarization direction conforming to that of an ordinary beam of the beam combining unit; wherein the beam combining unit combines the first light beam and the second light beam largely lossless and wherein the combination of the first and second light beams is accomplished with reference to at least one characteristic property of the first and second light beams, wherein the light sources are pulsed laser light sources defining a pulse profile over time wherein the pulse profile over time is the characteristic property.