High power diode laser array for an imaging laser radar sensor

The use of surface-emitting distributed-feedback diode laser arrays in conjunction with microoptics lens arrays to assemble a 10 W power-class laser source exhibiting submilliradian beam divergence is demonstrated. Such a diode laser promises to serve as a low cost, compact, efficient illumination source for imaging laser radar applications. Attention is given to the configuration of the collimating array and the comparative performance of the diode laser array and Fabry-Perot lasers.