Abstract

Semiconductor laser diodes have achieved ever higher optical output power levels in recent years by the integration of an increasing number of emitters into both linear and 2-D laser arrays. A type of array, known as a phase-locked array, has the further interesting property of achieving this high optical power while offering the possibility of a coherent laser output. In addition, it has been demonstrated that such a phase-locked array is capable of achieving electrically steerable and/or wavelength tunable outputs.^1,2 This paper will review the state of the art on phase-locked and incoherent linear and 2-D laser arrays.

© 1986 Optical Society of America