• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

In this study, we propose a hybrid phase-control algorithm for multi-channel coherent beam combining (CBC) system by combining the covariant matrix adaption evolution strategy (CMA-ES) and stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithms and analyze its operational performance. The proposed hybrid CMA-ES/SPGD algorithm is a sequential process which initially runs the CMA-ES algorithm until the combined final output intensity reaches a preset interim value, and then switches to running the SPGD algorithm to the end of the whole process. For ideal 7-channel and 19-channel all-fiber-based CBC systems, we have found that the mean convergence time can be reduced by about 10% in comparison with the case when the SPGD algorithm is implemented alone. Furthermore, we analyzed a more realistic situation in which some additional phase noise was introduced in the same CBC system. As a result, it is shown that the proposed algorithm reduces the mean convergence time by about 17% for a 7-channel CBC system and 16-27% for a 19-channel system compared to the existing SPGD alone algorithm. We expect that for implementing a CBC system in a real outdoor environment where phase noise cannot be ignored, the hybrid CMA-ES/SPGD algorithm proposed in this study will be exploited very usefully.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.247-258
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• 2020

In this paper, based on a stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithm we study phase control of a coherent-beam-combining system under turbulent atmospheric conditions. Based on the statistical theory of atmospheric turbulence, we carry out the analysis of the phase and wavefront distortion of a laser beam propagating through a turbulent atmospheric medium. We also conduct numerical simulations of a coherent-beam-combining system with 7- and 19-channel laser beams distorted by atmospheric turbulence. Through numerical simulations, we characterize the phase-control characteristics and efficiency of the coherent-beam-combining system under various degrees of atmospheric turbulence. It is verified that the SPGD algorithm is capable of realizing 7-channel coherent beam combining with a beam-combining efficiency of more than 90%, even under the turbulent atmospheric conditions up to cn2 of 10-13 m-2/3. In the case of 19-channel coherent beam combining, it is shown that the same turbulent atmospheric conditions result in a drastic reduction of the beam-combining efficiency down to 60%, due to the elevated impact of the corresponding refractive-index inhomogeneity. In addition, by putting together the number of iterations of the SPGD algorithm required for phase locking under atmospheric turbulence and the time intervals of atmospheric phenomena, which typically are of the order of ㎲, it is estimated that hundreds of MHz to a few GHz of computing bandwidth of SPGD-based phase control may be required for a coherent-beam-combining system to confront such turbulent atmospheric conditions. We expect the results of this paper to be useful for quantitatively analyzing and predicting the effects of atmospheric turbulence on the SPGD-based phase-control performance of a coherent-beam-combining system.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.245-251
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• 2022

We have developed a multi-channel fiber laser for tiled laser beam combining and a laser output array system for multi-beam alignment. The fiber laser is a master oscillator power amplifier configuration that has a common seed, a preamplifier, and a 7-channel amplifier. The output power of each channel is more than 10 W. The laser output array system is a packed cylindrical configuration for a high fill-factor, and it has capabilities for collimation and tilt control with built-in PZT. Multi-beam alignment to a target is successfully implemented using PZT controlled with a stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithm.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.2 no.6
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• pp.612-622
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• 2018

In wave-front-sensor-less adaptive optics (WFS-less AO) systems, the Jacopo Antonello (JA) method belongs to the model-based class and requires few iterations to achieve acceptable distortion correction. However, this method needs a lot of measurements, especially when it deals with moderate or severe aberration, which is undesired in free-space optical communication (FSOC). On the contrary, the stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithm only requires three time measurements in each iteration, and is widely applied in WFS-less AO systems, even though plenty of iterations are necessary. For better and faster compensation, we propose a WFS-less hybrid approach, borrowing from the JA method to compensate for low-order wave front and from the SPGD algorithm to compensate for residual low-order wave front and high-order wave front. The correction results for this proposed method are provided by simulations to show its superior performance, through comparison of both the Strehl ratio and the convergence speed of the WFS-less hybrid approach to those of the JA method and SPGD algorithm.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

We have studied a tiled-aperture coherent-beam-combining system based on constructive interference, as a way to overcome the power limitation of a single laser. A 1-watt-level, 3-channel coherent fiber laser and a 3-channel fiber array of triangular tiling with tip-tilt function were developed. A monitoring system, phase controller, and 3-channel phase modulator formed a closed-loop control system, and the SPGD algorithm was applied. Eventually, phase-locking with a rate of 5-67 kHz and peak-intensity efficiency comparable to the ideal case of 53.3% was successfully realized. We were able to develop the essential elements for a tiled-aperture coherent-beam-combining system that had the potential for highest output power without any beam-combining components, and a multichannel coherent-beam-combining system with higher output power and high speed is anticipated in the future.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2016

Since the direct-gradient (DG) method uses the Shack-Hartmann wave front sensor (SH-WFS), based on the phase-conjugation principle, for atmospheric compensation in free-space optical (FSO) communication, it cannot effectively correct high-order aberrations. While the stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) can compensate the distorted wave front, it requires more calculations, which is sometimes undesirable for an FSO system. A hybrid compensation (HC) method is proposed by properly using the DG method and SPGD algorithm to improve the performance of FSO communication. Simulations show that this method can well compensate wave-front aberrations and upgrade the coupling efficiency with few computations, preferable correction results, and rapid convergence rate.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2015

In this study, a novel parallel wavefront correction system architecture is proposed, and a model-based tabu search (MBTS) algorithm is introduced for this new system to compensate wavefront aberration caused by atmospheric turbulence in a free-space optical (FSO) communication system. The algorithm flowchart is presented, and a simple hypothetical design for the parallel correction system with multiple adaptive optical (AO) subsystems is given. The simulated performance of MBTS for an AO-FSO system is analyzed. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm offers better performance in wavefront aberration compensation, coupling efficiency, and convergence speed than a stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD) algorithm.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2021

Three factors that degrade the accuracy of modal decomposition are extensively studied using simulated and measured beams. These include a beam size mismatch, beam center mismatch, and signal-to-noise ratio of the images. The beam size and beam center are scanned using simulated noisy beams, and the result of the modal decomposition is compared with that of real beams. Based on the suggested procedure, error functions of approximately 1-4 × 10-3 can be acquired for real beams. This study provides important information regarding the impact of the three factors on the practical modal decomposition and tolerances of a mismatch, helping estimate the achievable values of the error function in a real beam modal decomposition.