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

Robert R Butts

Janet S Fender

Christopher R DeHainaut

Salvatore J Cusumano

An apparatus and technique are described for phasing the outputs of a multiplier telescope array used as a laser transmitter. The technique uses samples of the transmitted beams to control optical path lengths through the separate telescopes so that the beams add coherently at the receiver. The phasing concept is applicable both to systems which provide inputs to the multiple telescopes by dividing a single laser beam and to systems in which the inputs to the telescopes and multiple, phase-locked laser beams. The approach is also compatible with single line and multi-line lasers, and it does not entail stringent alignment requirements. The concept uses a procedure to find the zero optical path difference condition and to effect fine control of the optical path lengths through the different telescopes. Algorithms are described for estimating the phase mismatch from focal plane measurements.

Growing community of inventors

Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

Robert R Butts