Beam combination of a linear array: Hermite-Gaussian superposition model

Abstract

Abstract Starting from the generalized Huygens-Fresnel diffraction integral and using a Hermite-Gaussian superposition model, an analytical propagation equation of the beam emitted from a linear array is derived and illustrated numerically. Furthermore, the beam quality of the resulting beam in terms of the M 2-factor and power in the bucket (PIB) is analysed. Interestingly, the M 2-factor in the × direction is dependent upon the separation distance of beamlets, but the PIB is not, because the latter is determined by the irradiance distribution in the far field and the bucket size chosen.