Spectral analysis of beam-combining-systems based on laser array with smile effect

Abstract

The smile effect in semiconductor laser arrays can cause spectral deterioration in spectral beam combining (SBC) systems. We analyze this effect using position error and pointing deviation and propose a coupled-cavity resonance model based on the external-cavity optical feedback and the multibeam interference theory to study locked spectra. Our results indicate that the central emitter exhibits excellent spectral purity, and the edge emitters show side peaks and a decrease in peak intensity. With the increase in the position error and pointing deviation, the emitters experience an obvious spectral shift and an expansion of the spectral width. Pointing deviation has a greater impact on wavelength locking and array spectral width than position errors. Increasing the focal length and incident angle can reduce shifts and spectral width. Furthermore, adopting a grating with a large line density can also decrease its center wavelength shift and compress the spectral width of the combined beam.