Patent ID: 8547632

Claim:
An optical amplifier system comprising: a diode pump array including a plurality of semiconductor diode laser bars disposed in an array configuration and characterized by a periodic distance between adjacent semiconductor diode laser bars, the periodic distance being measured in a first direction perpendicular to each of the plurality of semiconductor diode laser bars, wherein the diode pump array provides a pump output propagating along an optical path and characterized by a first intensity profile measured as a function of the first direction and having a variation greater than 10%; a diffractive optic disposed along the optical path, wherein the diffractive optic comprises a photo-thermo-refractive glass member; and an amplifier slab having an input face and position along the optical path and separated from the diffractive optic by a predetermined distance, wherein a second intensity profile measured at the input face of the amplifier slab as a function of the first direction has a variation less than 10%.