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Lasers can be combined by harnessing the properties of an ultra-pure diamond crystal:
In a world-leading study researchers at Macquarie University have proven a method for multiplying laser power using diamond, demonstrating that a laser similar to the Star Wars 'superlaser' may no longer remain in science fiction. [...] The key to the high-powered beam is placing an ultra-pure diamond crystal at the point of convergence, and the beam-combining is achieved in diamond by harnessing a co-operative effect of the crystal that causes intense light beams to transfer their power into a selected direction while avoiding the beam distortion problems of single laser technologies.
"This discovery is technologically important as laser researchers are struggling with increasing power beyond a certain level due to the large challenges in handling the large heat build-up, and combining beams from multiple lasers is one of the most promising ways to substantially raise the power barrier," said lead experimentalist Dr Aaron McKay.
Diamond beam combining is a novel alternative to other concepts being currently trialed elsewhere in the world, and in this study, beam combining in diamond has the unique advantage that the process also changes the colour of the laser beam.
I prefer my lasers to operate at exawatt power levels.
Diamond-based concept for combining beams at very high average powers (DOI: 10.1002/lpor.201600130) (DX)
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Monday April 10 2017, @03:03AM (2 children)
So you combine several lasers into one using a diamond? that still leaves one stuck with the basic laser generation at dismal efficiency.
And I expect the output beam to be in phase, coherent and no more divergent than a single laser?
Makes you wonder how ultra pure diamond would work as a lasing medium. Or other nano generated materials.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Ethanol-fueled on Monday April 10 2017, @03:20AM
Also this:
Reduce the "eye hazard" for people and animals? 1240 nM is in the infared spectrum. It can hurt your corneas just as ultrasound can hurt your cochleae, and in both cases without you realizing.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday April 10 2017, @04:08PM
So you combine several lasers into one using a diamond? that still leaves one stuck with the basic laser generation at dismal efficiency.
Yes, but if one can make a full wafer of planar lasers in one go, one could scale power easily. I guess it is easier to produce many small lasers than to produce one large.
And I expect the output beam to be in phase, coherent and no more divergent than a single laser?
Hmmm, if we reflected a little bit of the main compound stream back to each particular source laser, would we tune them all to lase at a single common frequency?