Abstract

Laser diode arrays are useful for pumping of fiber and solid-state lasers due to their high power and narrow linewidth. In addition, multi-mode fibers offer a convenient method of transporting light for applications such as illumination and materials processing. However, the pumping geometry of end-pumped lasers or the waveguide shape of multi-mode fibers often does not match the diode array illumination pattern (approximately a line source). More efficient light-coupling is possible through a geometric transformation of the individual diode sources to more closely match the desired geometry¹. In this paper mass-transport smoothing is used to fabricate arrays of off-axis aspheric refractive collimating lenses and prisms for efficient reconfiguration of a linear laser diode. The modeling and design of the aspheric lenses is described and the performance characteristics of a fabricated prism demonstrated.

© 1998 Optical Society of America