Diode laser packages with flared laser oscillator waveguides

Abstract

A high brightness diode laser package includes a plurality of flared laser oscillator waveguides arranged on a stepped surface to emit respective laser beams in one or more emission directions, a plurality of optical components situated to receive the laser beams from the plurality of flared laser oscillator waveguides and to provide the beams in a closely packed relationship, and an optical fiber optically coupled to the closely packed beams for coupling the laser beams out of the diode laser package.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A high brightness diode laser package, comprising:
 a plurality of flared laser oscillator waveguides arranged on a stepped surface to emit respective laser beams in one or more emission directions;   a plurality of optical components situated to receive the laser beams from said plurality of flared laser oscillator waveguides and to provide the beams in a closely packed relationship; and   an optical fiber optically coupled to the closely packed beams for coupling the laser beams out of the diode laser package.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of flared laser oscillator waveguides includes a first set of three or more of said flared laser oscillator waveguides arranged on a first stepped surface portion of said stepped surface at successive heights thereof such that a first set of beams is emitted parallel to each other and said first stepped surface portion in a first stepped configuration in a first emission direction;
 wherein said plurality of optical components includes a first set of optical components associated with said first set of three or more flared laser oscillator waveguides, said first set of optical components including fast-axis collimation optics and slow-axis collimation optics for collimating the respective fast and slow axes of the first set of beams and beam-turning optics coupled to each first set beam so as to provide each first set beam in a first set turn direction such that the first stepped configuration of beams becomes a first stacked configuration of beams. 
 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of optical components includes an objective lens configured to optically couple the closely packed beams into said optical fiber. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of optical components includes a cross-cylinder lens configured to independently control the respective fast and slow axes of the closely packed beams for optically coupling into said optical fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the closely packed beams are arranged in a rectangular or square configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 2  wherein said plurality of flared laser oscillator waveguides includes a second set of three or more of said flared laser oscillator waveguides arranged on a second stepped surface portion of said stepped surface at successive heights thereof such that a second set of beams is emitted parallel to each other and said second stepped surface portion in a second stepped configuration in a second emission direction opposite said first emission direction;
 wherein said plurality of optical components includes a second set of optical components associated with said second set of three or more flared laser oscillator waveguides, said second set of optical components including fast-axis collimation optics and slow-axis collimation optics for collimating the respective fast and slow axes of the second set of beams and beam-turning optics coupled to each second set beam so as to provide each second set beam in a second set turn direction parallel to said first set turn direction such that the second stepped configuration of beams becomes a second stacked configuration of beams. 
 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of optical components includes a prism configured to geometrically multiplex said first and second stacked configurations of beams to become adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of optical components includes a polarization multiplexer configured to multiplex said first and second stacked configurations of beams to substantially overlap. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of flared laser oscillator waveguides includes two sets of twenty-four flared laser oscillator waveguides emitting corresponding sets of beams, wherein the two sets of beams are geometrically multiplexed to each other, and wherein each set of beams includes two subsets of twelve beams polarization multiplexed to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of optical components includes a volume Bragg grating optically coupled to one or more of the laser beams and configured to lock the wavelengths of the respective flared laser oscillator waveguides emitted the corresponding one or more laser beams.