<title>Assembly of fast-axis collimating lenses with high-power laser diode bars</title>

Abstract

The assembly of fast-axis collimating lenses (FAC-) with high power laser diode (HPLD) bars and stacks is discussed. FAC-lenses are cylindrical lenses of high numerical aperture and short focal length for the collimation of the strongly divergent radiation emitted perpendicular to the active region of a high power laser diode bar. These FAC-lenses are necessary for all kinds of beam transformation systems using HPLD bars and stacks. The lenses have to be fixed at the heat sink of the laser diode bar with an accuracy of < 0.3 micrometers and for special transformation system with a definite tilt of 1.2 degrees and an accuracy of better than mrad. In most cases an active assembly of the whole beam transformation system is necessary. Here we propose another approach.