STABLE OPERATION OF MULTIPLE-LATERAL-MODE RIDGE-WAVE-GUIDE LASERS FORHIGH-SPEED PRINTING

The authors report for the first time, a stable high-power multiple-la teral 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 sensitivit y to spatial variations and fluctuations. Output powers in excess of 2 00mW are obtained with slope efficiencies of 0.86W/A. A uniform latera l near-field intensity width of 10 mu m (full width at 1/e(2) of maxim um) has been achieved with a corresponding lateral far-field divergenc e of < 13 degrees (full width at 1/e(2) of maximum).