Abstract

Microchip lasers consist of monolithic flat-flat cavities formed by a short length of gain material with dielectric cavity mirrors deposited directly on the surfaces, and can operate with performance beyond that of larger cavity solid-state lasers.^1,2 Two-dimensional arrays of microchip lasers offer the ability to scale the output power significantly while maintaining many of the properties of the single microchip device. In addition, such arrays can be robust, compact and manufacturable devices that should ultimately operate at power levels beyond 10 kW. While these lasers will not replace a single diffraction-limited-beam laser of the same power, the brightness available from these arrays can be sufficient for numerous uses such as materials processing, radar, and medical applications.

© 1992 Optical Society of America