Systems and methods for forming a laser beam having a flat top

Details Systems and methods for forming a laser beam having a flat top Systems and methods for forming a laser beam having a flat top

2007-04-03

2007-04-03

Evans, Geoffrey S. (Department: 1725)

Electric heating

Metal heating

By arc

C359S618000, C372S009000, C372S055000

Reexamination Certificate

active

10760687

ABSTRACT:
Multiple laser beams, each having a shape such as a Gaussian profile, can be incoherently combined to obtain a shaped, flat top laser beam. The combined laser beams can provide power levels necessary for material processing applications such as annealing, drilling, and cutting, while minimizing the amount of unused power. The lasers can be positioned in an array in order to shape the flat top beam, and can be staggered in position where necessary to give each output beam an equal beam path length. The relative frequencies and/or powers of the lasers can be adjusted to control the flatness and stability of the incoherently combined beam.

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