Adaptive Laser Beam Engineering with Coherent Beam Combining for Efficient Power Delivery

Abstract

High-power laser technologies are essential in precision manufacturing, defense, and scientific research, where accurate control of the beam profile is paramount. Although several beam-shaping methods exist, they often face implementation and scalability challenges. To address these limitations, we introduce a comprehensive and versatile framework for on-demand beam engineering through coherent beam combining (CBC) systems to precisely craft far-field intensity distributions. The proposed approach integrates limitless key capabilities: (i) dynamic beam shaping through sequential steering, (ii) structured static beam shaping allowing the direct formation of target-defined profiles, and (iii) high-speed dynamic beam sequencing without mechanical movement. Thus, the proposed approach could be a potential one-stop solution to meet wide manufacturing requirements. Rapid reconfiguration is achieved through optimized phase control of the CBC channels, supported by a deep-learning-inspired optimization algorithm. This unified CBC framework significantly improves beam uniformity, power delivery efficiency, and scalability compared to conventional techniques, thus establishing a robust platform for next-generation laser systems in industrial manufacturing, materials processing, and directed-energy systems.