Far-field and wavefront characterization of a high-power semiconductor laser for free-space optical communications

Donald M. Cornwell Jr.; Babak N. Saif

doi:10.1117/12.43773

1 June 1991 Far-field and wavefront characterization of a high-power semiconductor laser for free-space optical communications

Donald M. Cornwell Jr., Babak N. Saif

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1417, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies III; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.43773
Event: Optics, Electro-Optics, and Laser Applications in Science and Engineering, 1991, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

The spatial pointing angle and far field beamwidth of a high-power semiconductor laser are characterized as a function of CW power and also as a function of temperature. The time-averaged spatial pointing angle and spatial lobe width were measured under intensity-modulated conditions. The measured pointing deviations are determined to be well within the pointing requirements of the NASA Laser Communications Transceiver (LCT) program. A computer-controlled Mach-Zehnder phase-shifter interferometer is used to characterize the wavefront quality of the laser. The rms phase error over the entire pupil was measured as a function of CW output power. Time-averaged measurements of the wavefront quality are also made under intensity-modulated conditions. The measured rms phase errors are determined to be well within the wavefront quality requirements of the LCT program.

Citation Download Citation

Donald M. Cornwell Jr. and Babak N. Saif "Far-field and wavefront characterization of a high-power semiconductor laser for free-space optical communications", Proc. SPIE 1417, Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies III, (1 June 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.43773

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