Patent ID: 8340151

Claim:
A system for coherent addition of broad-area laser diode emissions, comprising: an array of broad-area laser diodes, wherein each broad-area laser diode emits radiation and adjacent broad-area laser diodes are separated by a distance (d pitch ); and a V-shaped cavity, wherein a laser beam emitted from said system is coherent at a wavelength (λ) and wherein said V-shaped cavity comprises: a V-shaped reflector arranged to split radiation emitted from each of said broad-area laser diodes into a first beam traveling along a first optical path and a second beam traveling along a second optical path, wherein said V-shaped reflector is selected from the group consisting of a V-shaped prism reflector, a V-shaped stepped reflector and an array of micro-prism reflectors, a fast-axis correction lens disposed between said array of broad-area laser diodes and said V-shaped reflector, a cylindrical lens, having a focal distance (f), and a grating arranged sequentially along said first optical path, wherein said grating is arranged to direct first-order diffraction at said wavelength (λ) toward said array of broad-area laser diodes, and a second cylindrical lens, having a second focal distance (f 2 ), and a second grating arranged sequentially along said second optical path, wherein said second grating is arranged to direct first-order diffraction at said wavelength (λ) toward said array of broad-area laser diodes, wherein a distance along said second optical path between said second cylindrical lens and said second grating is equal to said second focal distance (f 2 ).