Claims
- 1. A method of providing a grating array system comprising the step of aligning at least one grating of a plurality of gratings with respect to another providing effectively one large monolithic grating, with said plurality of gratings operative in a coherently additive mode to satisfy the equations given in FIG. 2.
- 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said alignment is carried out with adjustment in a number of degrees of freedom less than all degrees of freedom of the gratings.
- 3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of diffracting high power beams suitable for chirped-pulse amplification with the gratings while the gratings are maintained in alignment for additive coherent operation.
- 4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of measuring an interference pattern and a diffraction limited spot, and moving one grating with respect to another in the array in response to the measurements of the pattern and spot until the alignment for coherent additive operation is obtained.
- 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said alignment step comprises the conjointly operative steps of interferometric sensing, data reduction and computer controlled actuation of said at least one grating to provide tip/tilt and piston movement of said at least one grating for additive coherent operation of said plurality of grating.
- 6. An apparatus for providing a grating array comprising means for monitoring tip, tilt and piston relationships of a plurality of gratings in the grating array which includes a wavefront sensor set at a conjugate angle to the gratings, are a laser beam incident on said gratings and illuminating said sensor.
- 7. A grating array system comprising a plurality of gratings and a plurality of grating sensors, arranged in referenced relationship to the gratings to measure the positional relationship of the gratings, and means operated by the sensors to adjust the position of at least one of said plurality of gratings for coherent additive operation of the gratings in the system.
- 8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the grating array has M×N (M, N=2, or larger) gratings, and a plurality of sensors operative to adjust the grating which corresponding to the number of grating boundaries of said grating and located at said boundaries.
- 9. The system according to claim 7 wherein said gratings in the grating array are (M×N (M, N=2, or larger) in number, and also including a plurality of sensors operative to adjust the grating which corresponding to the number of grating boundaries of said grating and located at said boundaries.
Parent Case Info
[0001] Priority is claimed to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/469,739, filed May 12, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference.
Government Interests
[0002] The United States Government has rights in this invention under an Agreement DE-FC03-92SF19460 between the U.S. Department of Energy and The University of Rochester.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60469739 |
May 2003 |
US |