Multiple-diode laser optomechanical issues

Abstract

A high quality Multiple Diode Laser (MDL) has been built that combines 16 Spectra Diode Lab's laser diodes into a single beam using both wavelength and polarization combining. The MDL shown in Figure 1 was designed and built to spe flight requirements. Critical submicrorneter tolerances to hieve wavelength stability, beam collimation, and beam coalignment and stability were met using developed, repeatable jocesses. The most stressing optomechanical requirement was the placement and cementing of an external etalon very curately positioned 36.3 0.05 jim from the diode to control the wavelength of the diode output. The second most stressing optomechanical requirement was maintaining the source decenter from the optical axis of the collimating lens to 0.09 j.un to insure coalignment of the 16 diode beams. The design and ocess techniques used to achieve these most critical optomechanical tolerances will be described as well as MDL performance hieved through environmental testing.