• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

In this study, we propose a hybrid phase-control algorithm for multi-channel coherent beam combining (CBC) system by combining the covariant matrix adaption evolution strategy (CMA-ES) and stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithms and analyze its operational performance. The proposed hybrid CMA-ES/SPGD algorithm is a sequential process which initially runs the CMA-ES algorithm until the combined final output intensity reaches a preset interim value, and then switches to running the SPGD algorithm to the end of the whole process. For ideal 7-channel and 19-channel all-fiber-based CBC systems, we have found that the mean convergence time can be reduced by about 10% in comparison with the case when the SPGD algorithm is implemented alone. Furthermore, we analyzed a more realistic situation in which some additional phase noise was introduced in the same CBC system. As a result, it is shown that the proposed algorithm reduces the mean convergence time by about 17% for a 7-channel CBC system and 16-27% for a 19-channel system compared to the existing SPGD alone algorithm. We expect that for implementing a CBC system in a real outdoor environment where phase noise cannot be ignored, the hybrid CMA-ES/SPGD algorithm proposed in this study will be exploited very usefully.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.247-258
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• 2020

In this paper, based on a stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithm we study phase control of a coherent-beam-combining system under turbulent atmospheric conditions. Based on the statistical theory of atmospheric turbulence, we carry out the analysis of the phase and wavefront distortion of a laser beam propagating through a turbulent atmospheric medium. We also conduct numerical simulations of a coherent-beam-combining system with 7- and 19-channel laser beams distorted by atmospheric turbulence. Through numerical simulations, we characterize the phase-control characteristics and efficiency of the coherent-beam-combining system under various degrees of atmospheric turbulence. It is verified that the SPGD algorithm is capable of realizing 7-channel coherent beam combining with a beam-combining efficiency of more than 90%, even under the turbulent atmospheric conditions up to cn2 of 10-13 m-2/3. In the case of 19-channel coherent beam combining, it is shown that the same turbulent atmospheric conditions result in a drastic reduction of the beam-combining efficiency down to 60%, due to the elevated impact of the corresponding refractive-index inhomogeneity. In addition, by putting together the number of iterations of the SPGD algorithm required for phase locking under atmospheric turbulence and the time intervals of atmospheric phenomena, which typically are of the order of ㎲, it is estimated that hundreds of MHz to a few GHz of computing bandwidth of SPGD-based phase control may be required for a coherent-beam-combining system to confront such turbulent atmospheric conditions. We expect the results of this paper to be useful for quantitatively analyzing and predicting the effects of atmospheric turbulence on the SPGD-based phase-control performance of a coherent-beam-combining system.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.245-251
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• 2022

We have developed a multi-channel fiber laser for tiled laser beam combining and a laser output array system for multi-beam alignment. The fiber laser is a master oscillator power amplifier configuration that has a common seed, a preamplifier, and a 7-channel amplifier. The output power of each channel is more than 10 W. The laser output array system is a packed cylindrical configuration for a high fill-factor, and it has capabilities for collimation and tilt control with built-in PZT. Multi-beam alignment to a target is successfully implemented using PZT controlled with a stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithm.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.107-114
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• 2024

In this study, the feasibility of using the covariance-matrix-adaptation-evolution-strategy (CMA-ES) algorithm in a multichannel coherent-beam-combining (CBC) system was experimentally verified. We constructed a multichannel CBC system utilizing a spatial light modulator (SLM) as a multichannel phase-modulator array, along with a coherent light source at 635 nm, implemented the stochastic-parallel-gradient-descent (SPGD) and CMA-ES algorithms on it, and compared their performances. In particular, we evaluated the characteristics of the CMA-ES and SPGD algorithms in the CBC system in both 16-channel rectangular and 19-channel honeycomb formats. The results of the evaluation showed that the performances of the two algorithms were similar on average, under the given conditions; However, it was verified that under the given conditions the CMA-ES algorithm was able to operate with more stable performance than the SPGD algorithm, as the former had less operational variation with the initial phase setting than the latter. It is emphasized that this study is the first proof-of-principle demonstration of the CMA-ES phase-control algorithm in a multichannel CBC system, to the best of our knowledge, and is expected to be useful for future experimental studies of the effects of additional channel-number increments, or external-phase-noise effects, in multichannel CBC systems based on the CMA-ES phase-control algorithm.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

We have studied a tiled-aperture coherent-beam-combining system based on constructive interference, as a way to overcome the power limitation of a single laser. A 1-watt-level, 3-channel coherent fiber laser and a 3-channel fiber array of triangular tiling with tip-tilt function were developed. A monitoring system, phase controller, and 3-channel phase modulator formed a closed-loop control system, and the SPGD algorithm was applied. Eventually, phase-locking with a rate of 5-67 kHz and peak-intensity efficiency comparable to the ideal case of 53.3% was successfully realized. We were able to develop the essential elements for a tiled-aperture coherent-beam-combining system that had the potential for highest output power without any beam-combining components, and a multichannel coherent-beam-combining system with higher output power and high speed is anticipated in the future.