Stable operation of multiple-lateral-mode ridge-waveguide lasers for high-speed printing

The authors report for the first time, a stable high-power multiple-lateral mode diode laser designed for high-speed document printing. The laser provides uniform near-field intensity and small beam divergence, while maintaining a large depth of focus to minimise media sensitivity to spatial variations and fluctuations. Output powers in excess of 200 mW are obtained with slope efficiencies of 0.86 W/A. A uniform lateral near-field intensity width of 10 μm (full width at 1/e² of maximum) has been achieved with a corresponding lateral far-field divergence of <13° (full width at 1/e² of maximum)