Nonuniform phased arrays of diode lasers for fundamental supermode operation

A new design of nonuniform phased arrays of diode lasers is described. In these nonuniform arrays both the channel widths and the channel spacings are properly varied across the array. This design results both in effective discrimination against the higher-order supermodes as well as in a more uniform near-field distribution. Such nonuniform arrays should therefore yield single-lobe, diffraction-limited beams up to higher output power levels.