Conversion of stripe-geometry junction laser emission to a spherical wavefront

TLDR: In this paper, the authors proposed a compact array of optical components that are relatively insensitive to beam-steering and to certain filamentation effects that may occur in the laser, which is accomplished by means of an inexpensive and easily adjustable compact array.

Abstract: In a micrographics system of the type in which holes are machined in a thin film by means of a laser (see, for example, reissue U.S. Pat. No. 28,375 of D. Maydan, M. I. Cohen and R. E. Kerwin, granted Mar. 25, 1975), it is advantageous that the laser be a solid-state unit of the stripe-geometry double-heterostructure type. But the optical output beam of such a laser typically exhibits astigmatism and an elliptical cross-section. To assure high-quality machining of the film, it is important that the astigmatic nature of the beam be corrected and, in addition, that the beam be converted to one having a circular cross-section. As described herein, this is accomplished by means of an inexpensive and easily adjustable compact array of optical components that are relatively insensitive to beam-steering and to certain filamentation effects that may occur in the laser.