Proximity-coupled, diode-bar-pumped, waveguide laser

Summary form only given. Recent work on high-power, planar waveguide lasers has been motivated by the fact that the planar geometry is ideal for thermal management and well-matched to that of diode-bar pump lasers, previously allowing simple cylindrical lens coupling. Here we report in-plane, proximity-coupling of a diode-bar to a planar waveguide with no intervening optics. This simple and highly-compact coupling arrangement is shown to be suitable for side-pumped lasers based on high-numerical-aperture (NA), contact-bonded, waveguides.