Patent ID: 9246310
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: B82Y,H01S

Claim Text:
1. A laser source comprising: a multi-wavelength quantum cascade laser (QCL) array including a plurality of single mode distributed feedback (DFB) QCL elements each having a corresponding DFB grating and each configured to emit a laser beam having a different emission wavelength, the emission wavelength of each DFB element being determined at least in part by a grating period of the corresponding DFB grating; a dispersive element external to the QCL array and configured to spatially overlap the laser beams from the plurality of DFB QCL elements in the far-field of the laser source to provide a single combined output beam, wherein the dispersive element does not substantially contribute to lasing and selection of the emission wavelength of the plurality of DFB QCL elements; and transform optics positioned between the QCL array and the dispersive element and configured to overlap the laser beams in the near-field of the laser source and to direct the laser beams from the QCL array onto the dispersive element, the transform optics being further configured to transform a spatial position of each DFB QCL element in the QCL array into a corresponding angle of incidence of each corresponding laser beam on the dispersive element, the angles of incidence being different; wherein the angles of incidence of the laser beams on the dispersive element and the emission wavelengths of the plurality of DFB QCL elements are selected to substantially match the angular dispersion of the dispersive element such that the dispersive element is configured to combine the laser beams into the single combined output beam, and wherein the dispersive element is positioned approximately one focal length from the transform optics.