United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

John H Erkkila

Athanasios Gavrielides

Phillip R Peterson

A method and apparatus for detecting small angular deviations of an input beam which utilizes a pair of diffraction gratings in series, both of which are operating in the Wood's anomaly region. As a result, the output intensity of the doubly diffracted input beam is at a maximum. Any deviation from the Wood's anomaly region by the input beam will substantially reduce the intensity of the output. This intensity variance is detected and utilized as an indication of a small angular deviation of the input beam.

Method and apparatus for detecting small angular beam deviations

An optical beam mode controlled high power laser system having a resonator which incorporates therein as one of the reflective elements a high efficiency diffraction grating. Impinging upon the diffraction grating is not only the high power resonator laser beam, but also an injected mode controlling laser beam of preselected wavelength. Each beam is directed at the diffraction grating at a predetermined angle in order for the grating to direct away therefrom a combined beam of radiant energy having high power and being locked to the preselected wavelength of the injected laser beam. It is this high power laser beam of preselected wavelength which is output from the laser system.

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Dayton, OH, United States of America

John H Erkkila