Retrodirective Wireless Optical Energy Transmission Using Optical Phase Conjugation

The increasing demand for wireless optical energy transmission in various aerospace applications necessitates efficient laser beam propagation over long distances, potentially across turbulent atmospheres. This study delves into retrodirective wireless optical energy transmission, employing optical phase conjugation to mitigate beam spreading and wandering caused by atmospheric disturbance. The phase conjugate mirror (PCM), a device reflecting phase conjugate light (PCL), enables automatic targeting/tracking action, and near-diffraction-limited focusing of the laser beam, making it ideal for remote moving targets. This chapter reviews existing wireless optical power transfer techniques, such as gimbal tracking and adaptive optics, while introducing optical phase conjugation technology as a new method for retrodirective optical power transfer using phase correction. Principles of optical phase conjugation and PCL generation techniques are also explored.