Model for passive coherent beam combining in fiber laser arrays

We present a new model for studying the beam combining mechanism, spectral and temporal dynamics, the role of nonlinearity, and the power scaling issue of discretely coupled fiber laser arrays. The model accounts for the multiple longitudinal modes of individual fiber lasers and shows directly the formation of the composite-cavity modes. Detailed output power spectra and their evolution with increasing array size and pump power are also explored for the first time. In addition, it is, to our knowledge, the only model that closely resembles the real experimental conditions in which no deliberate control of the fiber lengths (mismatch) is required while highly efficient coherent beam combining is still attained. (c) 2009 Optical Society of America