Experimental demonstration of a phase-locked laser array using a self-Fourier cavity

Abstract

A coherent phase-locked laser array has been experimentally demonstrated by combining the outputs of seven individual fiber lasers together in a self-Fourier cavity. By analyzing the interference fringes of the laser output in the far field of the array, a fringe visibility was measured of V=0.87, indicating a coherence of 0.73. The total output power of this laser array when operated as a coherent ensemble was 0.4watts.