Coherent beam combining architectures for high-power laser diodes

In this chapter, high-power direct diode laser systems are becoming more and more attractive for industrial applications where they are not limited anymore to the pumping of solid-state lasers and fibres. Nonetheless, the highest power emitted from a single laser chip is typically below 20 W for a broad area element in the near infrared, and even below in other spectral ranges. Thus the high powers required for cutting, welding and other advanced manufacturing techniques are only available by combining multiple emitters in a single beam - strength lies in numbers in this matter too!