Beam combining technologies for direct diode laser systems at the kW power level

This paper refers to recent developments within TRUMPFs direct diode laser program. We primarily focus on the development of high-efficient, lower-brightness direct diode laser systems which are currently launched into the market of laser metal brazing and welding. In this context, we report on major technical improvements of individual building blocks of such systems and finally give a brief insight into future brightness-scaling of such systems.