High Brightness Diode Laser Based on V-Shaped External Cavity and Beam-Waist Splitting Polarization Combining

Abstract

A beam combining method to improve the brightness of diode lasers is proposed based on a V-shaped external cavity spectral beam and beam-waist splitting polarization combination. This design has the outstanding advantages of improving the beam quality, brightness, and versatility of the diode laser. Specifically, an output power over 16W with M2 factors of 1.79 × 3.92 (Beam Parameter Product BPP = 0.55 × 1.22 mm mrad) at 40 A in the fast and slow axis is demonstrated for a commercial standard cm-bar. Furthermore, the slow axis M2 of the combined laser is improved by 56% compared with that of a single emitter. Additionally, the brightness of 262 MW·cm−2·sr−1, 136% higher than that of spectral beam combining without using beam-waist splitting polarization, was realized.

Keywords

• diode laser
• external cavity
• beam combining
• high beam quality and brightness