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1998
Conference Paper
Titel
Collimation of high-power diode lasers using fast gradient index lenses with wavefront correction elements
Abstract
A wavefront correction element (WFCE) is produced to make a cylindrical Ag-ion exchanged gradient index (GRIN) lens with a high numerical aperture (0.53) diffraction limited (wavefront error: 0.02 lambda root mean square). The wavefront aberrations of the cylindrical GRIN lens are measured by a phase-shifting shearing interferometer, using a conventional microscope objective as compensation lens. The continuous surface relief of the WFCE is produced by a lithographic process. The wavefront corrected GRIN lens is applied to collimate the strongly divergent light (57 degree full diverging angle measured at 1/e2 of maximum intensity) emitted by a highpower diode laser. The power irradiated into a full angle of 2 mrad could be enhanced by a factor of 1.8 using the WFCE.