Cascaded multi-dithering technique using PZT modulators for high control bandwidth in coherent laser beam combining

Abstract

A cascaded multi-dithering (CMD) technique using piezoelectric ceramic transducer (PZT) tubes as phase modulators is proposed as a tool for obtaining high control bandwidth in coherent laser beam combination. To prove its validity, eight coherent fiber beam elements were combined using the CMD technique with PZT tubes. As a result, residual phase error was recorded to be lambda/54 at 100 Hz control bandwidth, which is comparable to that of a four laser beam combination in the previous experiment. To our knowledge, this is the first case to date of combining eight laser beam elements using PZT tubes as phase modulators and achieving such good results.