Abstract

Many applications of laser diode arrays, such as optical recording and point-to-point communications, require a stable, near diffraction limited beam. Recently phased array lasers have been demonstrated in which the emitters are locked in-phase but the far field pattern is multi-lobed due to the relative emitter widths and spacing^1,2. In this paper we present data on "Y" coupled laser arrays which include flared waveguide at the facet to enlarge the near field spot size of the individual emitters. The near field "fill factor" is greater than 80% resulting in a predominantly single lobe radiation pattern. Such a laser is reported to emit a stable beam up to 150 mW cw.

© 1987 Optical Society of America