In-Phase Coherently-Coupled Optically-Pumped VECSEL Array

We report on an optically pumped vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser array exhibiting coherent coupling. Imaging of the far field shows interference consistent with in-phase coherent coupling, and a majority of total power is present in the central on-axis lobe. The physical mechanism of operation is attributed to diffractive coupling, wherein a small portion of the light emitting from each emitter is shared with adjacent emitters of the array.