Dual-axis beam correction for an array of single-mode diode laser emitters using a laserwritten custom phase-plate

A single optical component for a diode laser bar combines fastaxis smile and lens error correction with slow-axis collimation. Produced by laser-machining/polishing, it provides 0.9mm focal length, 200µm pitch slow-axis collimation on the same surface that corrects fast-axis errors. Custom fabrication enables fill-factor optimization for the 49 single-mode beams and gives parallel collimation with rms pointing errors of 3% and 6% of the far-field divergence for the fast- and slow-axis array respectively. Sub-micron pitch mismatch between the slow-axis lens and emitter arrays, and beam pointing changes by thermal expansion of the laser bar are detected. ©2009 Optical Society of America.