Thomas J Loftus

US Patent:

7199924, Apr 3, 2007

Filed:

Jan 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/342336

Inventors:

Andrew J. W. Brown - Brier WA, US
Eric C. Honea - Seattle WA, US
Thomas H. Loftus - Seattle WA, US
Roy D. Mead - Edmonds WA, US
Charles E. Hamilton - Kenmore WA, US
Anping Liu - Big Flats NY, US
Charles A. Lemaire - Apple Valley MN, US

Assignee:

Aculight Corporation - Bothell WA

International Classification:

H04J 14/02
G02B 27/64

US Classification:

359556, 398 87

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for spectral-beam combining light from a plurality of high-power fiber lasers that, in some embodiments, use two substantially identical diffraction gratings in a parallel, mutually compensating configuration to combine a plurality of separate parallel input beams each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, a single diffraction grating is used to combine a plurality of different wavelengths, wherein the input laser beams are obtained from very narrow linewidth sources to reduce chromatic dispersion. In some embodiments, diagnostics and adjustments of wavelengths and/or positions and angles are made dynamically in real time to maintain the combination of the plurality input beams into a single high-quality output beam.

US Patent:

7233442, Jun 19, 2007

Filed:

Jan 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/342337

Inventors:

Andrew J. W. Brown - Brier WA, US
Eric C. Honea - Seattle WA, US
Thomas H. Loftus - Seattle WA, US
Roy D. Mead - Edmonds WA, US
Charles E. Hamilton - Kenmore WA, US
Anping Liu - Big Flats NY, US
Charles A. Lemaire - Apple Valley MN, US

Assignee:

Aculight Corporation - Bothell WA

International Classification:

G02B 27/64

US Classification:

359556

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for spectral-beam combining light from a plurality of high-power fiber lasers that, in some embodiments, use two substantially identical diffraction gratings in a parallel, mutually compensating configuration to combine a plurality of separate parallel input beams each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, a single diffraction grating is used to combine a plurality of different wavelengths, wherein the input laser beams are obtained from very narrow linewidth sources to reduce chromatic dispersion. In some embodiments, diagnostics and adjustments of wavelengths and/or positions and angles are made dynamically in real time to maintain the combination of the plurality input beams into a single high-quality output beam.

US Patent:

7535631, May 19, 2009

Filed:

May 22, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/751637

Inventors:

Andrew J. W. Brown - Brier WA, US
Eric C. Honea - Seattle WA, US
Thomas H. Loftus - Seattle WA, US
Roy D. Mead - Edmonds WA, US
Charles E. Hamilton - Kenmore WA, US
Anping Liu - Big Flats NY, US
Charles A. Lemaire - Apple Valley MN, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

H04B 10/17
H01S 3/00

US Classification:

3593411, 372 6, 372102, 372108

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for spectral-beam combining light from a plurality of high-power fiber lasers that, in some embodiments, use two substantially identical diffraction gratings in a parallel, mutually compensating configuration to combine a plurality of separate parallel input beams each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, a single diffraction grating is used to combine a plurality of different wavelengths, wherein the input laser beams are obtained from very narrow linewidth sources to reduce chromatic dispersion. In some embodiments, diagnostics and adjustments of wavelengths and/or positions and angles are made dynamically in real time to maintain the combination of the plurality input beams into a single high-quality output beam.

US Patent:

8179594, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Jun 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/165651

Inventors:

Steven C. Tidwell - Kirkland WA, US
Thomas H. Loftus - Seattle WA, US
Charles A. Lemaire - Apple Valley MN, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

H01S 4/00
H04B 10/17

US Classification:

359349

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for spectral-beam combining of light from a plurality of high-power lasers (e. g. , fiber MOPA lasers) that, in some embodiments, use substantially identical diffraction gratings in a 1-D non-parallel, mutually compensating configuration to combine non-parallel converging input beams in one plane each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, an output grating and one or more input gratings in a 1-D parallel, mutually compensating configuration combine non-parallel input beams in one plane into a single output beam of high quality. In other embodiments, a 2-D plurality of input gratings in a non-parallel configuration combine a plurality of non-parallel input beams not in one plane each having a slightly different successively higher wavelength into a set of converging beams in one plane directed towards an output grating that compensates for chromatic dispersions introduced by the input gratings.

US Patent:

8472763, Jun 25, 2013

Filed:

Mar 8, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/043342

Inventors:

Anping Liu - Corning NY, US
Eric C. Honea - Seattle WA, US
Charles A. Lemaire - Apple Valley MN, US
Roy D. Mead - Edmonds WA, US
Christopher D. Brooks - Kenmore WA, US
Andrew J. W. Brown - Bellingham WA, US
Charles E. Hamilton - Kenmore WA, US
Thomas H. Loftus - Seattle WA, US
Fabio Di Teodoro - Lawndale CA, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G02B 6/34
G02B 6/26
G02B 4/42

US Classification:

385 37, 385 39, 385 47

Abstract:

A method and apparatus use a photonic-crystal fiber having a very large core while maintaining a single transverse mode. In some fiber lasers and amplifiers having large cores problems exist related to energy being generated at multiple-modes (i. e. , polygamy), and of mode hopping (i. e. , promiscuity) due to limited control of energy levels and fluctuations. The problems of multiple-modes and mode hopping result from the use of large-diameter waveguides, and are addressed by the invention. This is especially true in lasers using large amounts of energy (i. e. , lasers in the one-megawatt or more range). By using multiple small waveguides in parallel, large amounts of energy can be passed through a laser, but with better control such that the aforementioned problems can be reduced. An additional advantage is that the polarization of the light can be maintained better than by using a single fiber core.

US Patent:

8526110, Sep 3, 2013

Filed:

Feb 17, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/291031

Inventors:

Eric C. Honea - Seattle WA, US
Thomas H. Loftus - Seattle WA, US
Charles A. Lemaire - Apple Valley MN, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G02B 27/64

US Classification:

359556

Abstract:

A ring-laser system that includes a plurality of ring-laser gain elements and a spectral-beam-combining output stage configured to combine a plurality of beams coming from the gain elements into an output beam and that includes chromatic-dispersion compensation. In some embodiments, the output stage includes a plurality of highly reflective dielectric-coated focussing elements. In some embodiments, the output stage includes a plurality of high-efficiency dielectric-coated grating elements. In some embodiments, the output stage includes a mostly reflective but partially transmissive output mirror and a highly reflective beam-reversing mirror configured to reflect a majority of a backward-traveling signal beam such that it becomes forward traveling. In some embodiments, each gain element further includes a photonic-crystal-rod power amplifier. Some embodiments have an amplitude modulator configured to pulse the plurality of beams, and a timing controller configured to synchronize the pulses of the plurality of beams.