Coherent combining of a seven-element hexagonal fiber array

The coherent combination of the outputs from a seven-element hexagonal fiber array with a hexagonal prism is described. The fill factor of the coherent array achieves 0.6. A total of 0.40 of the energy is contained in the central lobe and the Strehl ratio is 0.91. A theoretical model of the hexagonal fiber array is established based on Fraunhofer diffraction theory. The far field distribution of the hexagonal fiber array is presented. The effects of fill factor and phase errors on far field distribution are analyzed and simulated.